SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Harlan County War is a rare little TV movie that takes a partly fictional look at the union wars in rural Kentucky during the 1970's, when a plucky band of coal miners and their wives took to the picket line in attempt to establish better working and living conditions. The story and title of the film have roots in the union wars of the 1930's, which set the stage for this tale. Holly Hunter plays Ruby Kincaid, wife of Silas (Ted Levine) a miner who suffers through the harsh labor everyday. The townspeople are tired of the injuries, the deaths and the deadly black lung infections, and are given reluctant hope when compassionate union official Warren Jakopovich (Stellen Skarsgard) arrives to their county, promising change. Many locals are skeptical due to past corruption and disloyalty, but soon the company gets nasty and they realize that Jakopovich may be their only chance. Hunter is as fired up as she always is, her accent thicker than the moonshine everyone swills. I tracked this film down for Levine (Skarsgard too), and this is one of the best roles he's ever gotten. He's usually in character parts like the violent thug, stern general, gruff cowboy or yes, the skin stealing serial killer. Here he's just a plain rural family man, a good hearted fellow who wants the best for his kin and county. Levine works wonders playing it straight here and I wish he'd get thrown more meaty and down to earth roles like this. Skarsgard can jump between being the most terrifying psychopath to the most comforting, sympathetic characters, and plays Jakopovich with compassion and dogged determination. The character building scenes between the three actors is brilliant. I feel like there's a longer edit out there somewhere, because it jumps a bit and forgets to address one plot turn entirely, but alas it's a tough one to affordably track down and this is the only version I could get. It's made for TV and that shows at the seams sometimes, but it's still solid drama about something important, and crafted very well.

deomorto This movie works well on many different levels. Holly Hunter isbrilliant as Ruby Kincaid the wife of Silas - the story shows howher strength of heart and will comes from an inner belief and drive.the movie also shows how tough it can be at the sharp end oflabor and management battles - the final line where guns aredrawn, both sides back away and then one man is killed beforeserious and ultimately successful negotiations are made is verystark.The score is also very well done.

rps-2 This is a powerful movie with superbly crafted characters. It's beautifully shot and captures the gritty realism of Appalachia, its hardships, its humanity, its humour. Holly Hunter has created an endearing character. But so are all the other principles. No stereotypes here but honest portraits of real working class people. This is one of the best labour movies I've ever seen.

Rob-210 I am biased about Holly Hunter, having enjoyed all her movies (excluding A Life Less Ordinary) right back to Broadcast News and Harlan County War is a fine addition to her record.In her first TV movie appearance for 7 years, she is the main focus of the gripping account of a particularly nasty miners' strike in Eastern Kentucky in the early 1970s and her portrayal of Ruby Kincaid has the ring of authenticity, extraordinary focus and real passion I've come to expect.Definite echoes of Roe vs. Wade for me - not just because that too was set in the 1970s but the whole feel of the movies is similar - both have very strong scripts and the acting of everyone involved is spot on. It was also interesting to contrast the approach taken with the UK movie " Brassed Off " which so successfully highlighted the many wounds (few yet healed totally) resulting from the 1984 miners strike in England - also a very bitter dispute.There are many wonderful moments in Harlan County - the scenes with Ruby and her black lung infected dad - evoking the poignant scenes between daughter and dad in Home For The Holidays - the strong rapport between Ruby and husband, and the gradual awareness of how strongly Ruby feels about not giving in to the mining company. For anyone who, like me, is an admirer of Holly Hunter's work this film is a must and long after watching it, images of the dispute lingered on in my mind. As usual, the other question I kept asking myself : is there a better character actor or actress than Hunter alive today ? Easy answer to that one - no.