Matewan - The Movie
Independent
filmmaker John Sayles, in concert with his intimidating efficient staff
(especially art director Dan Bishop and cinematographer Haskell Wexler),
performs miracles with the tight $4 million budget allotted to Matewan.
The plot, related in flashback from the point of view of an elderly miner
(Will Oldham), concerns a fictional 1920 labor action against the Stone
Mountain Coal Company of Matewan, West Virginia. Chris Cooper plays a former
IWW member sent by the United Mine Workers to organize the miners into
a strike. Cooper has problems achieving solidarity at first; additionally,
he is plagued by the underhanded activities of company spy Bob Gunton,
and by a goonish detective agency hired by the company to "keep the peace".
Framed on a phony rape charge, Cooper becomes a "Joe Hill" icon around
whom the miners (joined by several sympathetic law officers) rally. The
forces of Good assert themselves in a final shootout with the company's
hired hooligans; the strike is won, but at the cost of Cooper's life. Sayles'
recreation of the era in which Matewan is set is impeccable; adding to
the authenticity are several rousing pro-labor songs, written in the style
of the period by Sayles himself. The superb cast of Matewan is comprised
of several stalwarts of the John Sayles stock company, including David
Strathairn, Jace Alexander, Gordon Clapp and Maggie Renzi (who also co produced the
film).
CAST:
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James Earl Jones as Few Clothes Johnson
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Mary McDonnell as Elma Radnor
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David Strathairn as Police Chief Sid Hatfield
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Kevin Tighe as Hickey
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Joshua Mostel as Mayor Cabell Testerman
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Maggie Renzi as Rosaria
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Chris Cooper as Joe Kenehan
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Gordon Clapp as Griggs
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Joe Grifasi as Fausto
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Robert Gunton as C.E. Lively
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William Oldham as Danny Radnor
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John Sayles as Hardshell Preacher
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Dean as William/Broker
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Hazel Dickens as MT Singer
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Bob Gunton
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Bill Morris as Bass
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Tom Wright as Tom
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Jace Alexander as Hillard
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Thomas A. Carlin as Turley
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Fred Cecker as James
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Neale Clark as Issac
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Jenni Cline as Luann
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Mason K. Daring as Picker
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David Ferrario as Gianni
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Michael Frasher as Lee Felts
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Percy Fruit as Black Miner
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Stephen C. Hall as Redneck Miner
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Charles Haywood as Sheb
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Jo Henderson as Mrs. Elkins
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Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell
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James Kizer as Tolbert
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Delmas Lawhorn as Conductor
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Michael Albert Mantel as Doolin
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Michael Mantell as Doolin
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Gary Mccleery as Ludie
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Nancy Mette as Bridey Mae
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Milnes, Gerald, Fiddler
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Michael Munsey as Broker
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Payne,jr, Frank as Old Miner
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Hazel Pearl as Missus
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Hal Philips as Boxcar Guard
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Thomas Poore as Injured Black Man
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Michael Ellix Preston as Ellix
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Mitch Scott as Mister
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Ronnie Stapleton as Stennis
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Ida Williams as Mrs. Knightes
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Tara Williams as Woman
LINKS:
A
review by the Washington Post
Director
John Sayle's Biography
The unofficial homepage
of John Sayles
