Rent Matewan (1987)

A story that needs telling - Matewan review by CP Customer

The comments by a previous reviewer about the colour quality of this dvd are spot on. Even so, the washed out colours cannot detract from the power and the purpose of this very fine movie. John Sayles is at his best here, and there is a string of superb performances from the whole cast, led by Chris Cooper, Mary McDonnell, James Earl Jones and a magnetic David Strathairn.

The events depicted are a true history of the Matewan Massacre, part of an episode in America's violent past that needs to be better known. In the first decades of the twentieth century, employers and state authorities routinely hired armed thugs to break strikes and to stop the formation of trade unions. Matewan was the site of one particularly bloody campaign. It marked a temporary victory for the mining families, but the aftermath was further vicious repression.

The narrative is backed up by an excellent soundtrack of stark mountain music.

One point of extra interest is the sight of Will Oldham, later the musician and singer Bonnie Prince Billy, playing a righteously angry teenage preacher and union activist.

Excellent Historical Drama - Matewan review by GI

Inspired by real events this is a powerful socialist drama with a western feel to the style and look. It boasts the screen debut of Chris Cooper who here plays Joe, a union man sent to the small West Virginia town of Matewan to pull the exploited mineworkers together into a cohesive force to challenge the greed of the mining company. They in turn bring in a bunch of gunmen given pseudo legality to suppress the miners by violence if necessary. It's a classic tale of the repressed against the establishment and here it's richly filmed with a real sense of authenticity for the time and the plight of the miners. When the company attempt to replace the workers with black and Italian miners there's the ever present of racism endemic in the southern USA. The fact that Joe unites all the workers despite the cultural bigotry lends the film a heroic narrative edge and the entire drama culminates in a famous gun battle. It's a brilliantly told story and the cast are impeccable throughout with James Earl Jones, David Strathairn and Mary McDonnell supporting. The soft, almost hazy photography lends the film a sense of realism supported by the bluegrass soundtrack and the spot on accents. This is a film of betrayal, conspiracy and the strength of the underdog. It's a real treat and well worth checking out if you've never seen it.

A Battle for Justice, Carved from the Grit of History - Matewan review by griggs

Matewan is a gritty, slow-burn triumph about the brutal battle for workers’ rights in 1920s West Virginia. It’s one of the most powerful and honest films about class struggle, no melodrama, no preaching, just raw, carefully told storytelling that respects your intelligence.

Chris Cooper, in his debut, is outstanding, and the whole ensemble pulls its weight. There’s a real sense of community and tension throughout, with every character feeling lived-in. The film's handling of race, solidarity, and betrayal is impressively nuanced, never falling into cliché.

Haskell Wexler’s cinematography gives the film a dusty, almost mythical Western feel, making it feel grounded and legendary. The atmosphere he captures turns a small mining town into a battleground worthy of folklore.  

The fact that it’s based on real events, the Matewan Massacre, makes it all the more harrowing. There’s a quiet rage running through the film, and it builds to something truly unforgettable. This is top-tier historical drama.