Parents' Guide to

Free State of Jones

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Civil War drama is eye-opening, brutal, overlong.

Movie R 2016 139 minutes
Free State of Jones Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Mojopin70
Mojopin70 Adult
November 23, 2020
age 12+

Courage

It is courageous story. A part of the civil war that I wasn't aware of. Mississippi about their marriage laws were a white person with 1 /8th black can not marry a person 100% white. The main story line was very moving a brilliant performance by Mathew McConaughey.
karensdillon
karensdillon Adult
October 16, 2018
age 14+
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FREE STATE OF JONES takes place in 1862, in Jones City, Mississippi, where a Confederate soldier named Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey) finds himself demoralized after witnessing a teen boy's death on a blood-soaked battlefield. Knight starts to question why he's fighting and for whom -- and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes, benefits rich plantation owners who want to ensure that they get to keep their slaves. Meanwhile, men like him who have neither slaves nor riches are risking their necks while the slave owners stay home. Money apparently talks, prompting Knight to walk, but the world doesn't look kindly on deserters. So off he goes to hide in the swamps with escaped slaves. Soon Knight develops a strong belief that all men, regardless of race, are created equal, and that the war isn't serving any of them. In no time, he becomes the head of a rebellious group of deserters, local townsmen, and former slaves determined to fight the Confederates who are taking their land and hurting their families. It's a fight that doesn't end even after the South surrenders.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (6):

This intense drama sheds light on a little-known but significant part of U.S. history, but while it starts off strong, it loses its way, packing in too many specifics into a meandering 139 minutes. McConaughey is in top form, very much looking and sounding the part, though he's still prone to relying perhaps too much on gesture, which sometimes give his portrayal the feel of caricature. Gugu Mbatha-Raw brings much grace and gravitas to her smaller role at Knight's wife.

The fascinating story of Free State of Jones is mostly served well by the script. But there's a caveat: A flash-forward to the mid-20th century is jarring, even though it's still somewhat related to Knight's fight for independence. This is a drama worth seeing, but you can't help longing that the editor had taken a stronger hand so that story bloat didn't weigh the film down.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Free State of Jones' violence. How much of it is necessary to the storytelling? How does it compare to what you might see in a big superhero action movie? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Newton Knight deserted the army: Was he disloyal and deserving of punishment, or was he an independent-minded man who only wanted to fight for what he believed in? Are both answers possible? How did seeing all the carnage around him affect his mindset about the war and the Confederacy?

  • Do you think the film portrays a complete and accurate picture of the era it takes place in? Why might filmmakers working from a true story not adhere strictly to the facts? How could you find out more about the actual events and people portrayed in the film?

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