Matewan (1987)

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

It takes more than guns to kill a man

Plot:

A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.

Plot Keywords:

Historical | Racism | Labor Union | Labor | Mining Camp

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Joe Kenehan
James Earl Jones	...	'Few Clothes' Johnson
Mary McDonnell	...	Elma Radnor
Will Oldham	...	Danny Radnor
David Strathairn	...	Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Ken Jenkins	...	Sephus Purcell
Gordon Clapp	...	Griggs
Kevin Tighe	...	Hickey
John Sayles	...	Hardshell Preacher
Bob Gunton	...	C.E. Lively
Josh Mostel	...	Mayor Cabell Testerman
Nancy Mette	...	Bridey Mae
Jace Alexander	...	Hillard Elkins
Joe Grifasi	...	Fausto
Gary McCleery	...	Ludie

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14 (Ontario) | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

New River Gorge, New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, USA

Company:

Cinecom Entertainment Group

Trivia:

The movie was actually filmed in a town in central West Virginia known as Thurmond. This town is located on the New River. It is about 100 miles from the real city of Matewan.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The steam locomotive used in "Matewan" was ex-New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway ("Nickel Plate Road") #765. It was a modern steam locomotive built in the 1940's and thus would not have existed at the time of the events depicted in "Matewan."

Quotes:

Joe Kenehan: You think this man is the enemy? Huh? This is a worker! Any union keeps this man out ain't a union, it's a goddam club! They got you fightin' white against colored, native against foreign, hollow against hollow, when you know there ain't but two sides in this world - them that work and them that don't. You work, they don't. That's all you get to know about the enemy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: (#3.2)" (1998)

Awesome!

Matewan ranks in the best of the 80's. John Sayles much overlooked tale based on the true events that occurred in the title town. Sayles recreates the past with pastoral images and glowing light. Chris Cooper's Luddite persona and Christlike attitude captures the heart and is evenly balanced by the antagonist's in the film.

The cast is phenomenal. David Straitharn is the dark rider sheriff with a good heart. The final showdown is powerful and sad.

West Virginia is beautifully captured. Cinematography was the only category the Academy of Arts and Sciences recognized as nominating.

The film captures the desperation and determination of people who had very little and were treated like slaves. The Coal Company tried to break the formation of a Union by infecting it with racism and violence. That was the mindset.

The film is spiritual and lyrical showcasing the beauty and creativity of a much overlooked director.