Matewan - a great movie.

[Postman]

Was on Indieplex Channel yesterday. Might be on again this week..

If you can, DVR it. Great movie about labor vs. management (Coal mining company in Appalachia). Hits all the right notes in the use of immigrant (italian) and African-American scabs to break the union and to feed racial disharmony.

John Sayles did an outstanding job in this...

[NanceGreggs]

1. Agreed ...

... great flick!

[lame54]

2. John Sayles is great - check out Lone Star

[dana_b]

3. one of my favorites! n/t

[rucky]

4. Sayles is my favorite

and this is one of my favorites of his. Great cast, brilliant performances - and the first time we meet a 14-year-old Will Oldham playing a preacher boy.

[Brickbat]

5. It's an amazing movie. Plus, Hazel Dickens!

It blows me away that people say they can't possibly unionize Wal-Mart or other companies when we look and see what prices people paid to unionize the coal companies and U.S. Steel.

[driver8]

6. An amazing movie from one of my favorite directors.

I love Matewan -- powerful film.

[Kceres]

7. I finally got a DVD off Amazon.

I saw it years ago when it came out in the theater. My high-school son became interested in unions after reading "The Jungle" and I thought he needed to see this movie. I want him to know why this family does not cross picket lines, etc.

[Cirque du So-What]

8. Agreed - GREAT film!

If any of you are union organizers, I recommend showing this film to prospective union members. You won't find much pro-company sentiment after a viewing.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Yes, highly recommended!

I also recommend Men with Guns, which is a fictionalized (and slightly magical realistic) portrayal of the right wing's war on Central American peasants and workers. I know the issues quite well, and all the realistic things that happened were based on true events in Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras. The sound track is wonderful, too.

[Mopar151]

10. And a good cable documentary

On History, IIRC, part of a "hillbillies" series, hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus (who deserves major props for this)

[TexasObserver]

11. Recommend. Must see film, telling an important pro labor story.

[LisaM]

12. It is a great movie.

I saw it in the theatre. The audience walked out very somberly.

[Ernesto]

13. Yes, Yes!

When I taught UNION apprentices, I always showed "Matwan" and "Norma Rae". They loved them both!

[KamaAina]

14. Rich in detail

the town's "Main Street" is boardwalks alongside the railroad tracks.

The Italian housewives trying to show the Anglo-Saxon ones how to make polenta, only to be rebuffed with "We feed that slop to the dogs!"

And doubtless many more that I can't recall, seeing as how it's been years since I've seen it.

[StarfarerBill]

15. One of the greatest pro-labor films ever...

...by one of the greatest progressive directors ever.

[The Magistrate]

16. It Is Indeed, Sir!

One of my very favorites....

[quiller4]

17. It is a wonderful movie and historically accurate. Very powerful. n/t