Why the Civil War Movie "Free State of Jones" Deserved Better

[@Gravelgratious]

This is one of my favorite civil war films because it touches on the reconstruction years. It shows how the class structure on slavery held a persistent grip on black people after emancipation. I will say it is still too tame in the extreme level of brutality that was inflicted by white southerners on former slaves. However it shows how powerful the vote was and is in guaranteeing someone’s citizenship and humanity. I’d argue the bravest scene is that Election Day march with Newt and the Union League of black men coming to vote. Those ballots were death sentences for many black men and their families. Thank you Jared and Rich for reviewing this underrated film.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@lalabrouhaha]

I love that this has the feel of two friends just hanging out, watching a movie, and talking shop. You two have great banter and I hope you invite him back again. Cheers, gentlemen!

[@ReelHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dkarukas]

I went to school in upstate New York during the 70s. In our history and social studies classes we had more in depth studies about the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. After all many of the battles were in our area. There was even a re-creation of a French fort outside of Syracuse. (My wife's heritage is English, French and Native American.) We were taught that pretty much all Southerners backed the Confederacy, but the Free State of Jones movie made me curious, "were there other Confederate Rebellions?" Lo and behold, 15 minutes on Google had a bunch of sites where many areas of the South pledged loyalty to the Union with outright rebellions. A movie or mini series concentrating on rebellions against the Confederate States would be very interesting. What were the reasons? Did they declare themselves for the Union? How did the Confederates react? Would love to see that.

[@tylerdowdy3038]

I believe they were trying to defect when they were out on the battlefield alone

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

Would you consider reviewing The Good the bad and the ugly? Sure its mostly fictional but it does take place during an overlooked chapter of the civil war, the new mexico campaign.

[@lonnie.stephens]

I live in Jones County Ms and have studied the history very well. The movie is not totally accurate but it’s “based” on Newt’s life. There has been some liberties taken by the screen writers and directors.

[@berryreading4809]

I was just talking to someone about this movie yesterday! Hopefully you'll have a new subscriber once I send them this link! 😉👍 Also funny story "Cold Mountain" authored by Charles Frazier, was the brother of my elementary school art teacher. She was also incredibly talented, but at drawing and painting, and of course teaching. When it was first published, she proudly kept her gifted book, another very early, signed, jacketed hardcover displayed on top of her shelf where it was safely out of reach of our potential destructive power... It wasn't long before the book absolutely skyrocketed and she switched it out for a different signed copy she could actually have displayed on her desk without worrying about us ruining it! 😂 I remember exactly, but I remember her talking about her brother giving her the first copy of one of the books, I don't remember if it was a sample, from the first actual printing, or the first uncorrected copy... I also remember hearing from someone in my family years later that she definitely was not a fan of the "new" movie... Atleast as long as it shared the name of the book! 😂

[@ReelHistory]

Fun story!

[@petermaerkel9140]

Once again, excellent commentary. Great commentary on the spirit of Reconstruction versus the actual results of Reconstruction. It shows what often occurs in our country about its written aspersions, say in our Declaration and Constitution, versus the reality on the ground of working out those aspersions of "a more perfect Union." Again, excellent commentary by Jared and Rich. Thank you.

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you!

[@stephenpierce2242]

Great job guys! I saw this movie in the theaters in 2016. What I think is interesting about this film is that it felt like a real turning point in the historiography of the Civil War. This came right after the Confederate flag debate in South Carolina and polls across the country started to chnage from the major of people believing in the idea that war was started over states rights to over the institution of slavery.

[@ReelHistory]

You are definitely correct.

[@darcylong8016]

I'm a descendant of Newt and Wash. ❤

[@MVs1940]

I don't know why, but god knows how much have I watched this movie, though the film's slow, still, probably the only best film that shows the grim reality of reconstruction era of the United States

[@tylerdowdy3038]

Would you be willing if you haven’t already go over the movie Lincoln. The 2012 one with Daniel Day Lewis.

[@ReelHistory]

Coming this spring or early summer!

[@michaelsnyder6922]

I absolutely loved this movie. The military scenes were kind of inconsequential to me other than to show the war itself. As for the flash forwards I thought they were done perfectly. What happened between Newton and Rachel was so odd I think the flashes made me pay more attention to what was going on in relation to how their relationship formed in a day when it was pretty much a death sentence in many parts of the country. I’m fairly certain that wasn’t the intention for how they were done but that’s what they did for me.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for your perspective!

[@Mag_Aoidh]

The recreation of the Corinth battle was horrible. I’ve been on those grounds countless times and have reenacted there, I’m even in the NPS movie. Like you said, the authenticity is lacking but I really like this movie despite that.

[@opengee]

This was a great film. It was VERY helpful in conveying the message of what poor white people in the Confederacy had to deal with. The CSA was a nation built on planter aristocracy and chattel slavery based on racial segregation. The comments about "White Savior" films, or books, or personal beliefs of people being a "White Savior" themselves, is puzzling. I think it was a necessity for white people of that time to realize that people of African descent were human beings. I think the portrayal of white people in the 19th century who finally realized that owning people of African descent was morally wrong is historically accurate. That HAD to happen for African-descent people to ever be free on this continent. We have the benefit of hindsight. It's a shame that human beings ever allowed themselves to think or believe, that "you can own a child of God." I don't think depictions of what actually happened is somehow insensitive to the agency of people who were enslaved. By the way, I think Rachel crying at the bed was because of the rapes she had to endure in that room.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks for this, gentlemen. I need to give this another look (and dig further into the history).

[@andrewgeldmacher4765]

Are you going to cover “Manhunt”

[@Ghost20STX]

I hope so I’ve been waiting for it @Jared

[@ReelHistory]

@@Ghost20STX, in the near future, yes!

[@Ghost20STX]

@@ReelHistory heck yeah love your content, keep up the good work 🤝🏼

[@M80Ball]

I think ya got Dwayne from What’s Happenin mixed up with Mathew McConaughey. 😂

[@ReelHistory]

It naturally rolls off as I said it. Though perhaps I should have said, "Alright, alright, alright!"

[@joshuawells835]

I remember going to see this film in theaters with my parents. This was the film that I made the mistake of going in wanting to learn more about the Free State of Jones and instead got a film more focused on interracial marriage law in Mississippi during the Civil War, then during Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Era. It left a bad taste in my mouth and tainted my view of this film, but since then, I have heard others talk about this film's portrayal of Civil War battles (Brandan F. in particular and I occasionally find myself looking up the scene with the Confederates marching up the hill) and Reconstruction itself. So part of me wants to rewatch the film and see how much my views have changed.

[@gothard5]

so, would you agree that this movie needed Dale Dye?

[@ReelHistory]

Pretty much!

[@sambarone981]

Every movie needs Captain Dye. 😉

[@ericwallech-c1g]

Can you react to adventures of don juan 1948?

[@veramae4098]

The county Davenport, Iowa is in seceded from Iowa because of restrictive beer laws.

[@cjextreme]

What destroyed this movie from blockbuster potential was their stupid ads. They made most people think it was a shaming movie.

[@Dune571]

I think you guys missed McCaughanhey talking to his kin as they began to enter their friendly trench line, about 'making a run for those trees.' They went out alone in an attempt to desert...him saying they were 'all that was left of F company' was a lie to conceal their reason for being in the middle of no-man's land to an officer...

[@jannarkiewicz633]

Wow, Jared. You went all clean shaven. Good episode. but getting used to the new look.

[@ReelHistory]

We actually filmed it many months ago. The beard is back!

[@bryanstaul2304]

Hey! I follow Rich on twitter, neat crossover between two great historical accounts!

[@ReelHistory]

Cheers!

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

This is convenient for me because when I watch movies like this I spent half the time Google the historical events. I end up missing have the movie

[@ReelHistory]

You are welcome!

[@TrekBeatTK]

It came out 4th of July weekend so it was probably overshadowed by some big blockbuster.

[@robertshows5100]

Should have been two different movies. One pree 1900 and one in twentieth century

[@davemac1197]

26:00 - "Just shoot the guy, if he's so bad and you don't want to mess with him further..." - college professor demolishes liberalism with a page straight out of the SAS manual! Enjoyed this immensely. Thanks guys.

[@ReelHistory]

19th century liberals won the war and saved the Union! 😉

[@jandrewhearne]

Definitely some geographical inconsistencies with Jones County. It also bothers me that they have South Carolina troops mentioned in the Western Theater. I also would’ve thought early in the war, southern uniforms would’ve been standardized by unit, but starting to fall apart.

[@ReelHistory]

Interesting!

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

This Grandmother (Memere en Francais) likes the clean shaven Jared 😊.

[@mikedesil23]

As far as Civil War films go, I'd give it a B+

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

I wish YOU had been my history teacher!

[@ReelHistory]

I wish you had been a student!

[@BigRed0059]

Enjoyed this film.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

24:10 Remember we are talking the Mid 19th century!

[@ReelHistory]

We know it!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@ReelHistory Thee are people who don't.

[@johncashrocks221]

I was absolutely appalled by the material culture in this film, such realistic portrayal of violence but the battle scenes and clothing worn by the soldiers of both sides here look like they were dreamed up by a 12 year old boy from 1962 sperging out on the Gettysburg battlefield

[@ReelHistory]

they just stopped at the first sutler in Gettysburg after getting their registration card and bought everything!

[@johncashrocks221]

@@ReelHistory For real! Where did the idea that confederate soldiers were marching around with fake leather cowboy hats that had chin straps and random leather gloves, to name one egregious example

[@BjrnOttoVasbottenbjovas]

Watch this historian pull out a version of himself from 10 years in the past, nice!

[@ReelHistory]

Say again?

[@gothard5]

first I have ever heard of this movie

[@ReelHistory]

You aren't alone!

[@stephicohu]

The problem with this movie was someone needs to re-edit the movie. It was way too long and slow, in my opinion.

[@ReelHistory]

You should watch Gods and Generals.

[@nicohands9171]

Who is Andy on this channel? Using his celebrity status to try picking up my girl at Target. Is he really a war hero?

[@ReelHistory]

😄