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The trailers smack of another story of a 'great white man' pushed over the edge. Matthew McConaughey is a Mississippi farmer who turns against the confederacy in what turns out to be a less cliched telling of a truly great, forgotten bit of history. The bad guys are not the south, war or slavery (although they are all bad). The real enemies in the film are the "haves" versus the "have nots." the films struggle for liberty outlasts the main character, Newt Knight, and the Civil War, staying relevant to modern day issues but happily devoid of any references to the present day. It's a true epic that should sit alongside films like Glory.
Rated R.
Critic's Grade: B
Willamette Week
