Watch Mr. Jones

Mr. Jones is a historical drama movie that was released in 2019. The movie was directed by Agnieszka Holland and written by Andrea Chalupa. It features James Norton, Vanessa Kirby, and Peter Sarsgaard in the lead roles. The movie is based on a real-life story of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones who was the first Western journalist to uncover the truth about the famine in Ukraine in 1933. At the beginning of the movie, we see Jones (James Norton) trying to pitch a story to the New York Times about the state of affairs in Stalin's Soviet Union. However, his editor dismisses his proposal, and he is left with no choice but to travel to the Soviet Union on his own.

While on the train to Moscow, Jones meets Ada Brooks (Vanessa Kirby), an American journalist, who is also traveling to the Soviet Union. Upon arriving in Moscow, Jones tries to set up an interview with Stalin but is told that the Soviet Union is a paradise where everyone is well-fed and content. This propaganda worries Jones, and he decides to travel to Ukraine to find out the truth about the situation there.

In Ukraine, Jones witnesses the devastating effects of the famine that has been caused by Stalin's policies. He sees people dying of starvation and hears accounts of forced collectivization and repression. Throughout the movie, we see Jones struggling to report the truth in the face of official Soviet denials and stonewalling. Jones is a compassionate character, and we see his humanity as he tries to help the starving people he meets.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Jones's editor, Walter Duranty (Peter Sarsgaard), is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who is criticized for his coverage of the Soviet Union. Duranty is presented as a morally dubious character who is cozy with the Soviet regime. He warns Jones against reporting on the famine and tells him to leave the Soviet Union immediately.

As Jones struggles to get his story published, he faces numerous obstacles, including censorship, intimidation, and violence. However, the movie doesn't paint Jones as a hero who single-handedly brought the truth to the world. Instead, it shows how difficult it is to report on the truth in a world where propaganda and censorship are rampant.

The cinematography of the movie is beautifully done, and the scenes of the Ukrainian countryside are breathtaking. There are shots of fields of wheat, lush forests, and rustic villages, which stand in stark contrast to the scenes of death and starvation that are also depicted in the movie. The music is also well-done and complements the movie's tone perfectly.

One of the things that stand out in the movie is the performance of James Norton. He portrays Gareth Jones as a man who is determined to seek the truth, even if it means putting his life in danger. He is an earnest and sympathetic character, and Norton's performance draws the viewer into the story. Vanessa Kirby is also excellent as Ada Brooks, a fellow journalist who becomes Jones's ally in his quest for the truth.

In conclusion, Mr. Jones is a compelling movie that tells an important story about one man's struggle to report the truth in the face of censorship and propaganda. It is a well-made movie with excellent performances and stunning visuals. It is a movie that will keep the viewer engaged from start to finish. So, if you are a fan of historical dramas, Mr. Jones is definitely worth your time.

Mr. Jones is a 2020 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 68.