Free State of Jones: Official Trailer

It’s here. The first trailer for “Free State of Jones” starring Matthew McConaughey is now available and it looks incredible. The movie is based on Victoria Bynum’s excellent book, The Free State of Jones, Movie Edition: Mississippi’s Longest Civil War, which will soon be re-published by the University of North Carolina Press.

I will be reviewing both the book and the movie, which hits theaters this coming summer, for The Daily Beast. A couple of weeks ago I asked Vikki to reflect on the place of this movie in the context of our recent Civil War memory.

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15 comments… add one
  • Scott Ledridge Jun 25, 2016 @ 20:06

    Saw this today. The “heritage not hate” crowd is not going to enjoy this movie.

    • Kevin Levin Jun 26, 2016 @ 11:10

      Probably not. But what I find funny is that FSOJ tells a story about interracial cooperation, which is exactly what the Confederate heritage types have been pushing for only in support of the Confederacy.

      • Scott Ledridge Jun 26, 2016 @ 11:24

        Indeed.

        The heritage types have never let history get in their way.

      • Scott A. MacKenzie Jun 26, 2016 @ 14:07

        I saw it yesterday. It’s the anti-Gone With The Wind. General audiences may not like its overlength and flagging pace at times, but historians will forgive those flaws for offering a long overdue and badly needed counter to the dominant white southern narratives shown in film. It’s the best Civil War movie since Spielberg’s “Lincoln.”

  • Bryan Cheeseboro Jan 11, 2016 @ 3:28

    Wait a minute- are those Black Confederates in the movie? (just kidding).

  • TF Smith Jan 10, 2016 @ 22:15

    Interesting article about STX, the studio producing the film, in the New Yorker:

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/11/the-mogul-of-the-middle

    They made a point of expanding the initial battle scene – Corinth, I believe – to make it more of an entry point into the film.

    Looks good – should be a great film.

  • Joe Jan 10, 2016 @ 15:41

    Yeah I see that now. Google has updated it. When i searched yesterday it still said March 11.

  • Pat Young Jan 10, 2016 @ 3:14

    Glad that groundbreaking scholarship will be the basis for a film millions will see.

  • Joe Jan 9, 2016 @ 16:48

    You won’t be watching it this summer, unless you decide to wait for the DVD or something. Release date is March 11. That’s still winter, dude. Lol. 🙂

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