Watch Free State of Jones

The movie Free State of Jones is a historical drama directed by Gary Ross and released in 2016. The movie is inspired by the true story of Newton Knight, a Confederate soldier who deserted the army and led a rebellion against the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Matthew McConaughey plays the role of Newton Knight, a poor farmer from Jones County, Mississippi, who is conscripted into the Confederate army in 1862. Knight is reluctant to fight a war that he believes is only benefiting the wealthy plantation owners and not the common people. He is also tormented by the fact that he has to fight alongside people who own slaves, which goes against his personal beliefs.

During a battle, Knight is injured and declared deserter by the Confederacy. He flees to the swamps of Jones County, where he meets slaves and other deserters who are also hiding from the war. Knight begins to see the war from a different perspective and realizes that he cannot sit idle while people around him suffer.

Gradually, Knight becomes the leader of these deserters and former slaves, and they form a community that is based on equality and mutual respect. They grow their own crops and share everything they have, even though they are constantly under the threat of being discovered by the Confederacy.

Meanwhile, the war rages on, and Knight's hatred for the Confederacy only grows stronger. He decides to fight back by waging a guerrilla war against the Confederacy. Knight leads his band of rebels in attacks on Confederate supply lines, and they are able to seize weapons and other supplies from the Confederacy's army.

At the same time, Knight falls in love with a mixed-race slave named Rachel, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Rachel is also a strong-willed woman who believes in freedom and equality for all. Their relationship is taboo in the society of the time, but they defy the norms and stay together, even after the war is over.

As the war comes to an end, Knight realizes that the future of his community is in danger. The Union has won the war, but the newly formed government is not interested in supporting people like Knight and Rachel. Knight decides to take matters into his own hands and runs for the position of sheriff in Jones County. He is elected as the first non-white, non-wealthy sheriff in the county's history.

Overall, Free State of Jones is a compelling movie that portrays an important period of American history. The movie shows how the Civil War affected people on both sides of the conflict, and how it brought people together in unexpected ways. It also sheds light on the issue of racial inequality, which is still relevant in today's society. Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful performance as Newton Knight, and the supporting cast does an excellent job in bringing the story to life. The movie is well-paced and engaging, and it offers a fresh perspective on the Civil War era.

Free State of Jones is a 2016 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 19 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 53.