Matewan

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Matewan

PG-13

Released Aug 28, 1987

2h 12m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

94%

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34 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper), a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson (James Earl Jones) and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

In the rich umbers of Haskell Wexler's cinematography, Matewan does look great.

Mar 22, 2013

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

If Sayles's bite were as lethal as his bark, he might have given this a harder edge and a stronger conclusion. But the performances are uniformly fine.

Mar 22, 2013

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

In its grave clarity, it's as pure and plaintive as a mountain ballad.

Mar 22, 2013

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A film that cannot help but spark comparisons between the 1920s coal wars and the decline of the unions over the last century.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 17, 2022

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Piers Marchant

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Continuing in his fabulous run in the '80s, Sayles was at the very top of his powers, shooting on location in West Virginia and populating his screen with a blend of gifted character actors.

Nov 20, 2020

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Matewan remains relevant as corporations and captains of industry continue to exploit workers and drum up fear about unions.

Jul 28, 2020

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Jim S

Maybe it was a decent movie 35 years ago but I found it so slow and boring I did not finish watching it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/01/25

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Bert E

Still to this day my favorite film. Saw it multiple times at film festivals when it came out and since then a few times on DVD.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/24

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Kimm A

"Matewan" isn't an epic film like "The Godfather" or "Gigi" or "GoodFellas" or "Gladiator," but it is very good. Based on a true story, it really explains the politics and hardship of the 1920s (and other times) coal miners. It's a great script. I had to watch it for a film class and I have never forgotten the movie. Chris Cooper is brilliant, but my favorite part was James Earl Jones. He takes a small, important role and makes it so... powerful. His acting is, as always, understated and he almost steals the movie from Chris Cooper. He was such a great actor. (Still not over his death yesterday.) This is a drama with one of the best turning points in film I have ever seen. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good drama or to learn more about the history of coal mining and how mining companies routinely screwed over the very blood of their operations. Whoever cast this movie was brilliant.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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Alec B

Sayles strikes the right balance of realism and hope here. Per usual he assembles one hell of a cast.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Georgan G

Experience how West Virginia miners lived before unions were allowed, watch this film. Years of warfare between the unions & mine owner hired gun thugs. Shows a life of hard scrabble.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

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Audience Member

Over 35 years old I remember watching it in school learning about union history It's inspired by real events and won an Oscar for best cinematography The story of the Union being brought to West Virginia in 1920 to the coal miners and having them strike back against the Stone Mountain Coal Company They're very reluctant joining the blacks and Italians while facing wage cuts Love Chris Cooper, Mary McDonnell, David Straithrn, and James Earl Jones One of John Sayles' best films to this day and one of my favorite historical flicks

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/23

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John Sayles

Director

Chris Cooper

Joe Kenehan

Will Oldham

Danny Radnor

James Earl Jones

'Few Clothes' Johnson

Mary McDonnell

Elma Radnor

Bob Gunton

C.E. Lively

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Synopsis

Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper), a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson (James Earl Jones) and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.

Director: John Sayles
Producer: Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Production Co: Cinecom Entertainment Group, Film Gallery, Goldcrest Films, Ltd., Red Dog Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 1987, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2002
Release Date (DVD): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.9K
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Stereo