Matewan
"An American Classic." -Jeffrey Lyons, Sneak Previews/ INN
A small town in 1920's West Virginia explodes when unionist miners clash with the owners of a tyrannical coal company in this critically acclaimed film from writer/ producer John Sayles (Lone Star). Earnest labor leader Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper, A Time To Kill) arrives in Matewan to better the lives of the men and women in this "company town" through unionization. But in his efforts to organize the workers of the Stone Mountain Coal Company, he ignites a powderkeg of racial hostility, corruption and betrayal - and touches off one of the most violent incidents in the history of the Coal Wars of 1920-21. Mary McDonnell (Independence Day), David Strathairn (The Firm), and James Earl Jones (Clear and Present Danger) also star in the film that Leonard Maltin calls "compelling and compassionate... John Sayles makes ever note ring true."
Member Reviews
Sayles's 2nd Best - JohnnyCanuck
This film is a reasonably accurate representation of actual events in Matewan West Virginia, a small hill town where coal miners dare to form a union at a time in the US where governments at all levels sided with companies against unionization. Sales creates a very realistic period atmosphere, peppers it with good acting and suspense a la Lone Star. Very enjoyable story, mostly believable characters with some history thrown in. Most of Sayles early films are intelligent enough but are more character studies or documents of their times than entertainment. This one has modern pacing that keeps you on edge. @nd only to Lone Star.The Dawn of Unions....... - HotTubber
The pace of the film is slow, with an emphasis on creating a convincing setting for the drama which unfolds. Shot in bleak and set to the ballads of the hills, "Matewan" captures the countryside and the ancient, echoing spell of the worn-down Appalachians. It serves as a portrait of the people, with their ruined faces and their odd, isolated English. But it doesn't conjure the dark danger of digging for dirty ore, the hell of a life bent double and buried alive. Instead, it dramatizes a strike, the making of a local union and the miners as incipient union men. The miners have walked out of the Stone Mountain Coal Co. mine as a trainload of Alabama blacks arrives in the town of Matewan to take up the picks and sticks of dynamite. They, along with a group of Italian immigrants -- all ignorant of the situation -- have been imported to replace the strikers. On the same train rides union organizer Joe Kenehan. Despite prejudice and pain, Kenehan successfully unites the diverse groups to stand against the company.Excellent Historical Drama - newdaysof
Based on real events, Matewan portrays the vicious and ugly war that took place in the 1920's between the West Virginia coal barons and the dirt-poor coal miners.
There is no dirtier or more dangerous job than that of a coal miner who toils long hours deep down below the earth's surface, inhaling toxic coal dust and fumes, being coated from head to toe with grime and soot all day while at risk of being buried alive or blown up in an explosion. Yet thousands of men and young teenage boys work in coal mines and are paid a pittance while the fat-cat coal barons live in luxury and wealth while paying the miners slave wages.
No wonder the coal miners wanted to form a union in the 1920's. And yet, the coal company, the state of West Virginia and the US government branded these union coal miners "Reds" or communists because they banded together and demanded better wages and working conditions. The coal company employed thugs, bullies and assassins to harrass, threaten, injure and kill the unionists who defied them. Understandably, the coal miners fought back in any way they could. The coal company tried a number of dirty tricks like hiring infiltrators and spies who tried to slander and sabotage the union leaders. They even tried to employ black and Italian miners to work as scabs, but they ended up joining the union and fighting the company as a group.
The film has a number of fine actors including a very young Chris Cooper who should have won an Oscar for his role as the union leader. James Earl Jones also does an excellent job as the black leader. The musical score is excellent and contains a number of authentic 1920's blues and West Virginia folk songs. The camera work, scenery and location is all beautiful, shot on location in the hills and backwoods of West Virginia.
This is a worthwhile film to watch because it portrays real life conflicts that ended up having a big influence on our society and modern worker rights.
Member Reviews
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Sayles's 2nd Best - JohnnyCanuck
This film is a reasonably accurate representation of actual events in Matewan West Virginia, a small hill town where coal miners dare to form a union at a time in the US where governments at all levels sided with companies against unionization. Sales creates ...The Dawn of Unions....... - HotTubber
The pace of the film is slow, with an emphasis on creating a convincing setting for the drama which unfolds. Shot in bleak and set to the ballads of the hills, "Matewan" captures the countryside and the ancient, echoing spell of the worn-down Appalachians. ...Excellent Historical Drama - newdaysof
Based on real events, Matewan portrays the vicious and ugly war that took place in the 1920's between the West Virginia coal barons and the dirt-poor coal miners.
There is no dirtier or more dangerous job than that of a coal miner who toils long hours ...