Mud

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Joe Don Baker
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two young boys befriend a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) and decide to help him reunite with his love (Reese Witherspoon) and escape the police.

Review:

Tim: Color me shocked, but I loved Mud. I heard good things about it, and I certainly expected to enjoy the movie, but I wasn't prepared for the full scope of the film's charm. It is a sneaky movie- it starts out slowly, tells a straightforward story, and doesn't do anything massive or shocking at any point. However, the storytelling is spellbinding, and there's magic in this story of a young boy and the fugitive he befriends. This movie worked it's charms on me, and I fell for it.

On the surface, Mud is a drama. That doesn't really do the film justice, however. This is also a coming-of-age story. It's a story about innocence lost, about growing up and becoming an adult. It's also somewhat of a modern day fairy tale- the movie certainly treats its story like one of those old fables, the kind with interesting characters, exciting moments, and a few lessons about life thrown in. There's also some excellent mystery elements here as well.This is a complex, multifaceted film masquerading as a typical drama.

I didn't really care for director Jeff Nichols' last film, Take Shelter, even though most critics seemed to like it. For me, it felt like an incomplete film. I saw a few flashes of brilliance, but the execution was lacking. Nichols seems to have learned from those experiences, because Mud is a complete film. It does a great job of establishing its characters and giving them plenty of time for development (the film is a long 130 minutes, but it uses all its time wisely). The end of the film feels satisfying, like all the various storylines were wrapped together in a way that felt somewhat realistic, but left you feeling excited and pleased with the result. This is an expertly made movie.

The cast is very good. I really enjoyed Tye Sheridan as Ellis. He gave an exceptional performance, and he reminds the audience of what it's like to be young- you are old enough to know some things, and yet, there's a whole world of experiences that are unknown to you. It's an odd place to be in one's life- in command of knowledge, intelligent, experienced, and yet, not really having any idea about anything. Sheridan does a great job of demonstrating this fragile in-between stage. I liked Matthew McConaughey as Mud. McConaughey can certainly be charismatic as an actor, and he turned his charm up full blast for this film. He just makes you like him, even when you know you shouldn't. I liked seeing Reese Witherspoon in a very out-of-character role. I wouldn't say she was particularly strong, but it was refreshing to see her do something a little edgy and different from her usual parts. She does have a few good moments with Sheridan. I loved the supporting performance of Sam Shepard (he needs to work more), as well as Sarah Paulson and Michael Shannon. The cast is actually really strong.

One of the reasons I loved Mud is because the film sneaks up on you, grabs ahold, and won't let go. It's an exceptional example of terrific storytelling. I was intrigued and engaged in the story from start to finish, and I really cared about the characters on screen. This movie surprised me, and I would consider it one of the best movies of 2013. Jeff Nichols is someone I initially dismissed, but this film is making me rethink my stance toward him. If he can create a film as beautiful as Mud, I'm really excited to see what he does next.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Take Shelter, Shotgun Stories