Matewan screenwriter, John Sayles

[sjbosch56]

There are any number of groups and individuals in this story. One of the necessities of storytelling is that the characters have to do what they see as right. Lively, the restaurant owner, is informing to the coal companies and will see some of his neighbors beaten up, perhaps killed. Lively isn't Dracula, he doesn't live on suffering. He believes that nothing can really change the situation: the strong prey on the weak. Work for the strong and you get somewhat ahead.

[Salguine]

@sjbosch56 CE Lively was a scumbag. After Baldwin-Felts thugs gunned down Sid Hatfield on the steps of the McDowell County Courthouse, it was Lively who stepped in and shot him point-blank in the head. Yeah, I'm sure he did that out of frustration over his powerlessness to change the situation.

[originalkekebrown]

One of the best movies about and portraying West Virginia and West Virginians. A classic!!

[jlfittro]

Both sides may be right??? The coal barons/corporations are never right!

This is the lesson of the coal wars.

[FrankieWeinert]

Viva Sayles!

[air1dit]

excellent movie!