Directed by:
John SaylesScreenplay:
John SaylesCinematography:
Haskell WexlerComposer:
Mason DaringCast:
Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham, David Strathairn, Ken Jenkins, Gordon Clapp, Kevin Tighe, John Sayles, Bob Gunton, Josh Mostel (more)Plots(1)
A small town in 1920's West Virginia explodes when unionist miners clash with the owners of a tyrannical coal company in this critically acclaimed film from writer/ producer John Sayles (Lone Star). Earnest labor leader Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper, A Time To Kill) arrives in Matewan to better the lives of the men and women in this "company town" through unionization. But in his efforts to organize the workers of the Stone Mountain Coal Company, he ignites a powderkeg of racial hostility, corruption and betrayal - and touches off one of the most violent incidents in the history of the Coal Wars of 1920-21. Mary McDonnell (Independence Day), David Strathairn (The Firm), and James Earl Jones (Clear and Present Danger) also star in the film that Leonard Maltin calls "compelling and compassionate... John Sayles makes ever note ring true." (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Chris Cooper
USA
Best movies:
American Beauty (1999)
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
The Bourne Identity (2002)
James Earl Jones
USA
Best movies:
The Simpsons.com (2000) (video compilation)
Dangerous: The Short Films (1993) (video compilation)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Mary McDonnell
USA
Best movies:
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Battlestar Galactica (2003) (TV movie)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Will Oldham
USA
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Jackass 3D (2010)
Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure (1989) (TV movie)
David Strathairn
USA
Best movies:
L.A. Confidential (1997)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Temple Grandin (2010) (TV movie)
Ken Jenkins
USA
Best movies:
The Abyss (1989)
I Am Sam (2001)
And the Band Played On (1993) (TV movie)
Gordon Clapp
USA
Best movies:
Gross Anatomy (1989)
Matewan (1987)
Running (1979)
Kevin Tighe
USA
Best movies:
The Graduate (1967)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Matewan (1987)
John Sayles
USA
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Passion Fish (1992)
Gridlock'd (1997)
Bob Gunton
USA
Best movies:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
JFK (1991)
Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Josh Mostel
USA
Best movies:
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Radio Days (1987)
Jace Alexander
USA
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Love and a .45 (1994)
Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988)
Joe Grifasi
USA
Best movies:
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Sunday (1997)
Davide Ferrario
Italy
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Mason Daring
USA
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
City of Hope (1991)
Tom Wright
USA
Best movies:
The Pentagon Wars (1998) (TV movie)
Matewan (1987)
Passion Fish (1992)
Scott A. Martin
USA
Best movies:
Jack Reacher (2012)
Matewan (1987)
Unstoppable (2010)
Maggie Renzi
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Men with Guns (1997)
Passion Fish (1992)
Michael Mantell
Best movies:
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Quiz Show (1994)
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Jo Henderson
USA
Best movies:
Matewan (1987)
Lianna (1983)
Murder in Coweta County (1983) (TV movie)