A Useful film for Neo-Conservative America
Added 1/31/2010
This dramatic portrayal of self-defense in 1920-21, told by the master story teller John Sayles in 1987, is an essential pedagogical exercise in post-cold-war America, where the ideology of Social Darwinism is alive and well, and still serving the economic and political interests of the "power elite" in the United States. For an international perspective on this same subject, I recommend my own book, The French Anarchist Labor Movement and 'La Vie Ouvriere' 1904-1914 (American University Studies : Series IX, History, Vol 112).
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Realistic and Fast-Passed Action Drama
Added 10/18/2009
Coming from southern West Virginia, this DVD had special meaning to me. In it I saw glimpses of the coalfield scenes my mother, grandmother, aunts and uncles talked about.
It is suspenseful from the beginning and throughout, fast-paced and entertaining. James Earl Jones and Chris Cooper are superb, but lesser known actors stand out too for their understated realism. There is action, there is drama and a great story, all intelligently done. I've shared my copy with a number of friends who were equally impressed. I believe this is Sayles' finest picture.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Great Historically Accurate Movie
Added 9/10/2009
I grew up in the Western Pennsylvania coal fields hearing similar stories and the area portrayed in this movie is very much like that area. The movie is intense and viewed from the vantage point of the 21st century, we tend to forget how badly laborers as a whole were treated in the early half of the 20th century. Memorable performances abound and the movie will leave an indelible imprint in your memory.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Dramatic. Real. Unforgettable.
Added 8/23/2009
This has got to be one of the best, if not the best, American films of the past 30 years. It is for me anyway. It's about a miner's strike in Mingo county West Virginia in 1920. From what I understand it's based on true events. The basic story is - Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) comes to town to help the coal miners set up a union. The Stone Mountain Coal Company paid little, paid in company scrip, and owned the houses the workers lived in. The company brings in two Baldwin Phelps private detectives (Pinkerton types) to fight back against this labor organization. It's a fascinating battle as the union goes on strike and the detectives do anything they can, legal or otherwise, to subvert them. Classic storytelling.
The cast was superb. Many of these guys are from the Sayles *company* so to speak - Mary McDonnell, David Straithairn, Chris Cooper and the others. Not a bad performance in the movie.
Another thing I liked about the movie is it's attention to detail. I noticed the baseball Kenehan and Danny Radnor (a young Will Oldham) were throwing around in one scene. It certainly looked like something from the dead ball era. They filmed on location. The clothes were totally from the period. They used oil lamps. All these details added up, powerfully evoking the time and place - West Virginia in 1920.
Lastly, I didn't have any problem with the DVD as others seemed to. It didn't have any extras, but I don't care about that stuff anyway, so no loss. I did have to get it used though. I'm not sure why the company isn't releasing it new. (Well, it wasn't a commercial hit and movies about coal mining strikes probably aren't easy sells. I guess that's it.) It cost me [...] and it was worth every penny.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A movie that allows one to get an idea of what the Coal Mining Wars of West Virginia involved. Could do without the rebel flag in the background since it is misleading the main idea of the story.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Useful film for Neo-Conservative America
Added 1/31/2010
This dramatic portrayal of self-defense in 1920-21, told by the master story teller John Sayles in 1987, is an essential pedagogical exercise in post-cold-war America, where the ideology of Social Darwinism is alive and well, and still serving the economic and political interests of the "power elite" in the United States. For an international perspective on this same subject, I recommend my own book, The French Anarchist Labor Movement and 'La Vie Ouvriere' 1904-1914 (American University Studies : Series IX, History, Vol 112).
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Realistic and Fast-Passed Action Drama
Added 10/18/2009
Coming from southern West Virginia, this DVD had special meaning to me. In it I saw glimpses of the coalfield scenes my mother, grandmother, aunts and uncles talked about.
It is suspenseful from the beginning and throughout, fast-paced and entertaining. James Earl Jones and Chris Cooper are superb, but lesser known actors stand out too for their understated realism. There is action, there is drama and a great story, all intelligently done. I've shared my copy with a number of friends who were equally impressed. I believe this is Sayles' finest picture.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Great Historically Accurate Movie
Added 9/10/2009
I grew up in the Western Pennsylvania coal fields hearing similar stories and the area portrayed in this movie is very much like that area. The movie is intense and viewed from the vantage point of the 21st century, we tend to forget how badly laborers as a whole were treated in the early half of the 20th century. Memorable performances abound and the movie will leave an indelible imprint in your memory.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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