Writer/Director Gary Ross brings this Little Known event to the Big Screen in a Big, Laborious Fashion. So Big, it seems to many Critics, that the Power and Revelation of said Events is Lost in the Overall Overthinking of the Thing, and Diminishes the Message in a Meandering Montage.
The Film is Astonishing, Heartbreaking, Well Acted, and Mounted with Attention to Detail. Some Scenes are Visceral and Very Violent, others are Didactic and Dull. The Future Court Room Scenes, for example, are Not Needed and Bog Down an already Long Running Time. This bit of Exposition is Ill Advised in this Otherwise Engaging Exercise.
Matthew McConaughey is in Fine Form as the Real Life Confederate Deserter and Leader of other Like Minded Countrymen that Take Up Arms Against the Legalized Thievery and Brutality against the Poor Farmers by the Confederate Army. He and His Comrades Think They are Fighting on the Side of the Angels. "No one can own a child of God."
The Movie is Important as it is Another in a Recent Exclamation Point on the Obvious. Slavery is Not an Option in Any Way in Any Form. It's a Lesson that Needs to be Taught Again and Again, or so it Seems.
At Times it might Appear that Schooling in the Form of Film is Beating that Dead Horse a Time Too Many. But Beating a Metaphorical Dead Horse in Better than Beating a Fellow Human Being. Back to School Anyone?
Gary Ross Thinks so and His Efforts are Noble and Commendable. However, Box-Office Audiences and Critics have Turned this into a Monumental Flop. What a Shame! It Deserves a more Appreciative Applause because this is a Fine Film Full of Flaws. But Who and What Isn't?
The Film is Astonishing, Heartbreaking, Well Acted, and Mounted with Attention to Detail. Some Scenes are Visceral and Very Violent, others are Didactic and Dull. The Future Court Room Scenes, for example, are Not Needed and Bog Down an already Long Running Time. This bit of Exposition is Ill Advised in this Otherwise Engaging Exercise.
Matthew McConaughey is in Fine Form as the Real Life Confederate Deserter and Leader of other Like Minded Countrymen that Take Up Arms Against the Legalized Thievery and Brutality against the Poor Farmers by the Confederate Army. He and His Comrades Think They are Fighting on the Side of the Angels. "No one can own a child of God."
The Movie is Important as it is Another in a Recent Exclamation Point on the Obvious. Slavery is Not an Option in Any Way in Any Form. It's a Lesson that Needs to be Taught Again and Again, or so it Seems.
At Times it might Appear that Schooling in the Form of Film is Beating that Dead Horse a Time Too Many. But Beating a Metaphorical Dead Horse in Better than Beating a Fellow Human Being. Back to School Anyone?
Gary Ross Thinks so and His Efforts are Noble and Commendable. However, Box-Office Audiences and Critics have Turned this into a Monumental Flop. What a Shame! It Deserves a more Appreciative Applause because this is a Fine Film Full of Flaws. But Who and What Isn't?