A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 8 nominations total
- Ellix
- (as Michael Preston)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDebut feature film of actor Chris Cooper.
- GoofsLook for the sheriff to remove a gun from someone's hand (by holding the gun by the barrel) after it's been fired four or five times.
- Quotes
Joe Kenehan: You think this man is the enemy? Huh? This is a worker! Any union keeps this man out ain't a union, it's a goddam club! They got you fightin' white against colored, native against foreign, hollow against hollow, when you know there ain't but two sides in this world - them that work and them that don't. You work, they don't. That's all you get to know about the enemy.
The cast is phenomenal. David Straitharn is the dark rider sheriff with a good heart. The final showdown is powerful and sad.
West Virginia is beautifully captured. Cinematography was the only category the Academy of Arts and Sciences recognized as nominating.
The film captures the desperation and determination of people who had very little and were treated like slaves. The Coal Company tried to break the formation of a Union by infecting it with racism and violence. That was the mindset.
The film is spiritual and lyrical showcasing the beauty and creativity of a much overlooked director.
- victor7754
- Aug 19, 2004
- How long is Matewan?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,680,358
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $23,850
- Aug 30, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $1,680,358