Free State of Jones

Gary Ross's film does well to juxtapose telling of Knight's story with the trial his mixed-race descendant is fighting in the same state "85 years later".

The problem with the film is that its intent is far more academic than cinematic. So the involvement of the audience is largely cerebral (and that too only if you are a history buff) rather than emotional. At the end of this experience you are likely to feel more beleaguered than entertained.

Free State of Jones is a wasted opportunity. The material is rich, the case is good and the story has the familiar elements of a good historical film, but the lack of real feeling lets the film down at the end.