Matewan (1987)

100% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(3,656 ratings)

Independent filmmaker John Sayles creates one of his more artistic works with this period feature about a volatile 1920s labor dispute in the town of Matewan, West Virginia. Matewan is a coal town where the local miners' lives are controlled by the powerful Stone Mountain Coal Company. The company… More Independent filmmaker John Sayles creates one of his more artistic works with this period feature about a volatile 1920s labor dispute in the town of Matewan, West Virginia. Matewan is a coal town where the local miners' lives are controlled by the powerful Stone Mountain Coal Company. The company practically owns the town, reducing workers' wages while raising prices at the company-owned supply and grocery. The citizens' land and homes are not their own, and the future seems dim. When the coal company brings immigrants and minorities to Matewan as cheaper labor, union organizer Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) scours the town to unite all miners in a strike. As the crisis grows, strikers and their families are removed from their homes by two coal company mercenaries (Kevin Tighe and Gordon Clapp, both also featured in Sayles' Eight Men Out (1988)), and the situation heads toward a final shootout on Matewan's main street . Sayles' simple but telling screenplay brings to light the treatment of immigrants and minorities in the early 20th century South, and it draws sharp parallels between the Matewan labor battle and the Civil War some 50 years earlier. The visual feel of the film is real West Virginia backwoods, with much of the credit going to legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler, whose warm, rustic lighting belies the anxiety and terror felt by the oppressed townspeople. ~ Norm Schrager, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 10 min.
Directed By: John Sayles
Written By: John Sayles
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Aug 28, 1987 Limited
On DVD: Nov 23, 1999
Studio: Cinecom Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
John Sayles' period piece is an ambitious drama of union making and union breaking in the 1920a
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Cinematographer Haskel Wexler contributes greatly to the look and feel of a truly special cinematic achievement.
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
For all of the binary simplicity of the film's moral structure, the question of violence, its utility or even necessity, is the great ambiguity at the film's center.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An old-fashioned movie that will make the hearts of all idealists truly sing.
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Superb drama by John Sayles; Chris Cooper is brilliant.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Fascinating masterpiece from Sayles
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
marks a turning point in the auteur's career, a transition between a teller of personal tales and a conveyor of universal ones.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

An amazingly authentic film with great performances, photography and production design. Sayles work here is stellar, can't wait to read the book.
Tim S

Caught this on late night cable. Fantastic film on all levels. It looks great and has some amazing performances. It is everything that I love about John Sayles. It seems like every movie he makes is a social studies project (not that it's always a good thing) and you always learn… More
Caught this on late night cable. Fantastic film on all levels. It looks great and has some amazing performances. It is everything that I love about John Sayles. It seems like every movie he makes is a social studies project (not that it's always a good thing) and you always learn about something from his films. I didn't know anything about this event and it made it more riveting. Bob Gunton, Chris Cooper (in his film debut), and James Earl Jones are brilliant.
Anthony V

A modern classic.
Moe E

Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones and Mary McDonnell each do a good job in this John Sayles piece on the growth of the labor union into the West Virginia coal mines of the 1920's. But, I may have set my expectations for the film a bit too high. Maybe it was meant as a warm-up for… More
Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones and Mary McDonnell each do a good job in this John Sayles piece on the growth of the labor union into the West Virginia coal mines of the 1920's. But, I may have set my expectations for the film a bit too high. Maybe it was meant as a warm-up for Sayles, David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe, Jace Alexander and Gordon Clapp prior to their collaboration of the following year...Eight Men Out.

Cast

            Chris Cooper as Joe Kenehan

            Will Oldham as Danny Radnor

            Mary McDonnell as Elma Radnor

            Bob Gunton as C.E. Lively

            James Earl Jones as Few Clothes Johnson

            Kevin Tighe as Hickey

            Gordon Clapp as Griggs

            Josh Mostel as Mayor Cabell Testerman

            Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell

            Jace Alexander as Hilliard Elkins

            Gary McCleery as Ludie

            David Strathairn as Police Chief Sid Hatfield

            Joe Grifasi as Fausto

            James Kizer as Tolbert

            Thomas A. Carlin as Turley

            Jo Henderson as Mrs. Elkins

            Michael Mantell as Doolin

            Nancy Mette as Bridey Mae

            Frank Hoyt Taylor as Al Felts

            Mason K. Daring as Picker

            Davide Ferrario as Gianni

            Maggie Renzi as Rosaria

            John Sayles as Hardshell Preacher

            Tom Wright as Tom

            Fred Cecker as James

            Neale Clark as Issac

            Jenni Cline as Luann

            Hazel Dickens as MT Singer

            Michael Frasher as Lee Felts

            Percy Fruit as Black Miner

            Stephen C. Hall as Redneck Miner

            Charles Haywood as Sheb

            Delmas Lawhorn as Conductor

            Gerald Milnes as Fiddler

            Bill Morris as Bass

            Michael Munsey as Broker

            Frank Payne Jr. as Old MIner

            Hazel Pearl as Missus

            Hal Philips as Boxcar Guard

            Thomas Poore as Injured Black Man

            Mithc Scott as Mister

            Ronnie Stapleton as Stennis

            Ida Williams as Mrs. Knightes

            Tara Williams as Woman

            Michael Preston as Ellix

            William Dean as Broker
See full cast