Starring: Matthew McConnaughey, Tye Sheridan, Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Joe Don Baker
Distributor: Roadshow Films
Runtime: 130 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2013
| 
| 
There are many good things in Mud (despite the tone of the title). It has been written and directed by Jeff Nichols who made the striking mid-American apocalyptic drama, Take Shelter. Once again, he is in the mid-West, on the Mississippi River in Arkansas. The photography of the small town, the boats on the banks, the rivers in mid-stream, helps us to feel that we have been there.
This is the story of two young lads growing up, working on the river and with fish sales, dealing with problems at home, discovering the attractiveness and the sometimes fickleness of girls, then faced with some crises that they should never have had to face. Tye Sheridan as the young Ellis gives an excellent performance, credible and sympathetic. As his friend Neckbone, Jacob Lofland is hardier, more wary of what happens, yet a backup to Ellis.
But what is the mud of the title? The wet beach on the island? The sludge near the houseboats on the river? Rather, the question is who is Mud?
He is a local who has gone away, experienced a muddled kind of life, always following his childhood sweetheart, Juniper, who falls in and out of love with him. In anger, Mud has shot a man who was violent to her and is now on the run. He has found a boat stranded by low tides in a tree on the island. The boys come to claim it and find Mud. He asks for help, for food, for tools, for an engine for the boat. While Neckbone is suspicious, Ellis likes Mud and helps him.
Life is complicated for Ellis because his mother is tired of life on the boat, wants to move to town and take Ellis with her. But he is devoted to his father as well, working with him on deliveries. Neckbone, meanwhile is being looked after by his oyster-farming uncle (Michael Shannon who starred in Take Shelter).
Mud plans to rendezvous with Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) and asks Ellis to be a go-between, involving him in matters he cannot quite understand and appreciate. And which becomes dangerous when the family of the dead man come searching for vengeance.
The other character is an old CIA agent and assassin (Sam Shepard) who had been a father-figure to Mud and whom the boys bring out to the island to talk with Mud.
The characters are well-written and well-acted, drawing the audience deeply into the story. The star attraction is Matthew McConnaughey as Mud. In recent years, McConnaughey has moved away from the romantic comedies he seemed to be stuck in and has made fine appearances in Bernie, Magic Mike, The Paperboy.
On paper, Mud might seem ordinary, even slight, but on screen it makes a strong impression.
12 Random Films…
