'Worthy' and 'admirable' are words that spring easily to mind to describe this account of the West Virginia miners' strike of the Twenties, which culminated in what became known as the Battle of Matewan. Compassion drips from every frame; yet the brutal truth is that Matewan is a very slow film that, for all its brilliant re-creation of period and hardship, makes severe demands on our patience. Excellent performances by Chris Cooper, making a late screen debut at 36 as the travelling union organiser, Mary McDonnell, as the widow with whom he rooms, Kevin Tighe, as the repugnant union-breaker hired by the mining company, David Strathairn as the down-the-line local sheriff, James Earl Jones as the leader of the black miners, and many more, can't paper over the fatal lack of pace that director John Sayles brings to this slice of history sprung to life.

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