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Matewan

Play trailer Poster for Matewan PG-13 1987 2h 12m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 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.
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Matewan

Critics Reviews

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Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Mar 22, 2013
In the rich umbers of Haskell Wexler's cinematography, Matewan does look great. Go to Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Mar 22, 2013
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. Go to Full Review Jay Carr Boston Globe Mar 22, 2013
In its grave clarity, it's as pure and plaintive as a mountain ballad. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Feb 17, 2022
4/4
A film that cannot help but spark comparisons between the 1920s coal wars and the decline of the unions over the last century. Go to Full Review Piers Marchant Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Nov 20, 2020
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. Go to Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture Jul 28, 2020
Matewan remains relevant as corporations and captains of industry continue to exploit workers and drum up fear about unions. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cathy W @RT89786382 Oct 19, 2025 Striking film, cinematography incredible. Tighe's performance as Hickey good work. Recommend. See more Jim S @Sharkmiester Mar 1, 2025 Maybe it was a decent movie 35 years ago but I found it so slow and boring I did not finish watching it. See more Bert E @RT06334556 Sep 27, 2024 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. See more Kimm A @RT92397929 Sep 10, 2024 "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. See more Alec B @Alec97 Jan 9, 2024 Sayles strikes the right balance of realism and hope here. Per usual he assembles one hell of a cast. See more Georgan G @RT98616417 Jan 8, 2024 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. See more Read all reviews
Matewan

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Cast & Crew

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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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Matewan

Matewan (1987) James Earl Jones ("Few Clothes") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Chris Cooper ("Joe") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. John Sayles writer-director of MATEWAN. Josh Mostel ("Cabell") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. David Strathairn ("Sid") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Matewan (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

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
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