Matewan | 
| Actors: Jace Alexander, Tom Carlin, Gordon Clapp, Chris Cooper, Joe Grifasi
Studio: Lions Gate
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $28.00
New (13) Used (12) from $28.00
Rating:  68 reviews
Sales Rank: 31671
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Italian (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 142 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DA010046D
UPC: 707729100461
EAN: 0707729100461
ASIN: B00005Y7R6
Theatrical Release Date: August 28, 1987
Release Date: August 14, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
A little-known chapter of American labor history is brought vividly to life in this period drama from writer-director John Sayles. It's a fictional story about labor wars among West Virginia coal miners during the 1920's, but every detail is so right that the film has the unmistakable ring of truth. The tension begins when the Stone Mountain Coal Company of Matewan, West Virginia, announces a lower pay rate for miners, who respond by calling a strike under the leadership of a United Mine Workers representative (Chris Cooper). Proving strength in numbers, the miners are joined by black and Italian miners who initially resist the strike, and a fateful battle ensues when detectives hired by the coal company attempt to evict miners from company housing. Violence erupts in a sequence of astonishing, cathartic intensity, and Matewan achieves a rare degree of moral complexity combined with gut-wrenching tragedy. The film salutes a pacifist ideal while recognizing that personal and political convictions often must be defended with violence. To illustrate this point, Sayles enlisted master cinematographer Haskell Wexler, who creates the film's authentic visual texture--a triumph of artistry over limited resources. The result is a milestone of independent filmmaking, and Matewan remains one of Sayles's finest achievements. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 63 more reviews...
 Matewan May 14, 2009
WV History Teacher
A movie that allows one to get an idea of what the Coal Mining Wars of West Virginia involved. Could do without the rebel flag in the background since it is misleading the main idea of the story.
 great movie and hard to find about coalminers and union January 7, 2009
gypsymarie (USA)
I bought this for my boyfriend for christmas and I was lucky to find it on amazon. It is hard to find anywhere else. But it is a great movie about coalminers and the union. Buy it
 it ain't American December 21, 2008
Bob (Divided States)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I want to consume. How dare Amazon and the makers of this DVD and whomever else is to blame deny me the chance to spend my hard earned money on a DVD I'll not even watch many times because the story is very depressing and makes me feel dead on the inside and more disgusted with people when I see it. It's a good movie I should say. And btw, the more I hear unions getting bashed in the media and blamed for America's economic woes the more I love 'em. Unions make the right people mad. The media controversy shows their power and the way the msm covers labor shows you their true colors. These days people care more about shopping then getting together to improve society and force the money power to spread that wealth the've gotten better and better at hording over the past 40 years.
The Matewan Massacre is in here somewhere . . . June 21, 2008
Robert M. Baker (London, KY USA)
This is a great movie. That being said, the events it is alleged to portray are only a small part of THIS film. There's a story being told by Mr. Sayles about the conditions in which the miners and their families lived, what their prospects for improvement were, the efforts to unionize the coal fields, and the efforts to thwart the unionization of the same, but beware that you understand that Mr. Sayles was telling a story that only refers to what happened in Matewan and Bloody Mingo in 1920-1921. This is not a documentary nor does Mr. Sayles intend for it to be. His vision of the story is certainly true, but not historically accurate. It is one of those films that makes you think about the message, but be sure you understand that Sayles has a message and you may or may not agree with it. As a piece of drama, it is first-rate. As an account of a series of historical events, it takes great liberty with the details to make a point.
Incredible movie. June 21, 2008
doc richie (cincinnati, oh)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My mom's family is actually from McDowell County W. Va. and still live there, which is just to the east of Mingo County. The performances are right on with the Appalachian population that lives there. My grandfather died in the W. Va. coal mines in the early 60's, so this film is especially relevant for me. This is a fantastic movie in every sense of film. It is a throw-back to film-making that focuses on acting, directing, and screenplay. It is edge-of-your-seat thrilling...unless, of course, you have to have bombs, explosions, and special effects with very little intelligent dialogue or acting. If that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here. If you're looking for a truly authentic film with rich acting and brilliant story-telling, then this is a film you can truly revel in.
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