Traveling down the Mississippi River one day, two teenage boys named Ellis and Neckbone discover a small island housing two notable objects: a boat stuck in a tree, and a man calling himself "Mud." After some simple conversation, as well as several visits back, the boys discover how and why Mud came to be on said island: the man is a fugitive, a former local on the run for murder, and all Mud wants is to reunite with his girlfriend, so that they may leave town together.
Well, the hits just keep on coming, and in the case of this past week's worth of releases that I've managed to observe, they're getting better and better. I never thought I'd put something starring Matthew McConaughey in a potential "Best of the Year" list, but there's always time for firsts in my book of often strange movie opinions.
I was terrified that Mud's hype would its own undoing, but if anything, it hasn't been receiving enough in the public eye. It could be the best "southern" film I've seen in recent memory, and may be up there with some of the all time classics of the "coming-of-age" genre. You know what I'm referring to, yes? Films that feature a colorful cast, mostly focused on a younger man or woman, and let us the audience watch them grow up or down over the course of its running time usually qualify as such. Pictures like Stand By Me are often the most easily remembered of the bunch. Mud also takes influence from pictures like Slingblade and even modern day classics like Winter's Bone, with its very raw and often times real vibes felt throughout.
He might be the butt of several jokes for the rather silly roles he occasionally signs on to, but my goodness is Matthew McConaughey excellent in this. I don't recall liking him this much in a film since at least the days of Frailty. The Texas actor seems more suited and remarkably comfortable in roles like the title character, who is a fascinating individual and deeply sympathetic, through thick and thin. There isn't much more rewarding than a well-written tragic character whose layers we have to continuously peel back. But while watching the unraveling and confessions of Mud's past is great, the film really isn't about him once one sticks with it.
No, Mud is more about the growth and maturation of teenager Ellis, played absolutely fantastically by Tye Sheridan. If you can promise to keep him away from the destructive and terrible lifestyle that Hollywood seems to subtly encourage, this young man has a real future as a potential Oscar winner. You also need to steer him clear of any douchebag directors who may cast him more as a typical "southern kid" rather than for his, you know, talent. Anyways, back on topic. It isn't hard to see some of yourself in Ellis. He's struggling with parental problems (a potential divorce), a girl who may or may not return her affections, and even may have to bare witness to his childhood home being demolished if things don't get increasingly better. It can tug at your heartstrings more than you may realize.
Truth be told, there isn't a weak performance to be found in the two hour running time. Reese Witherspoon, for what time she is seen here, is great as Mud's girlfriend, as is Sam Shepard as Tom Blankenship, the equally mysterious stranger who lives near Ellis and his family. The character count does get to be a tad bit much in the third act, but it doesn't overwhelm or stress you out. Speaking of the third act, Mud's script gets to be fairly heartbreaking as time goes on, with distinct moments and revelations in said third act making it easy to identify with the supporting cast's frustrations. It is a good reminder of humanity's simplest, but cruelest flaws, and of the classic quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Oh! That quote may also play a minor part in a future review...
Wow, did I seriously go an entire review without truly bitching once? Hmm. Well, in all honesty, I couldn't find anything to truly complain about or nitpick, other than perhaps the character of Neckbone sporting a Fugazi t-shirt during their first encounter with Mud. Someone please remind me, do rednecks listen to Fugazi? Well, I guess if I ever believe anybody in this cast would've introduced the young man to the world of alternative music, it would be Michael Shannon, the boy's uncle. McConaughey looks like the type who would be into really awful modern country (or worse, bad southern post-grunge). Otherwise, this is a really, REALLY well done film, and worth watching as soon as you finish reading this review (for which I thank you).
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