David E. Baldwin—September 7, 2013
"Mud" was probably a hard film to market because its themes are difficult to pigeonhole. Centered around the banks of the Mississippi it concerns itself with two fourteen year old friends, Ellis(Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), whose bond is probably forged by less than ideal home lives. Ellis' parents are on the cusp of separation and Neckbone lives with an uncle his natural parents nowhere to be found. They have a secret hideaway on a desert island on the river and one day they find an interloper to their idyll, Mud(Matthew McConaughey). Rumpled in appearance with a pistol strapped to his waist Mud relates a tale of him being on the run from bounty hunters because he killed a man who was abusing the love of his life, Juniper(Reese Witherspoon). The boys are taken in by these tales of alleged gallantry and start doing favors for Mud. It begins with them bringing him food, then passing messages to Juniper, and finally scrounging parts for Mud's boat. The message here is twofold. "Mud" illustrates the rocky road from adolescence to the teen years and secondly how the impressionable clamor for romance even if it is far removed from the truth. McConaughey is absolutely spellbinding as the rascal Mud and the two newcomers are screen naturals who seem to be playing real teens and not facsimiles. Director-writer Jeff Nichols not only crafts a terrific script but establishes an eerie mood to accompany his words. "Mud" is a fascinating film that takes any number of twists and turns that you won't guess the ultimate outcome. Just enjoy the boat ride. Read more
Jim Einstein—August 28, 2016
Mud [Blu-ray + Digital ] The mood, the nature, the characters. Everything just oozes poetry about it. The yound kid is fantastic in this one, as he was in Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. Even Matthew McConaughey, who I am normally not a fan of, is great. A great story about love and coming of age. Masterfully directed by Jeff Nichols Picture quality: Aside from one or two minor bandings, I wasn't bothered by anything, and it was a sight to behold. The scenery is breathtakingly-gorgeous. Detail fantastic. Contrast nicely dialed in. Colours natural and warm. There are some mindblowingly sumptuous shots in this one. Audio Quality: Wonderful. Very immersive and rich. Great dynamic range and natural. Extras: There are plenty to be had, including a director's commentary. The making-ofs are interesting and informative. My highest recommendation. Film: 4,5+/5 PQ: 4,5/5 AQ: 4,5/5 Extras: 3,5/5 Read more
MDLION—April 25, 2015
"Mud" is the story of two boys, Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who come across a man, Mud ( Matthew McConaughey), hiding on a small island in the Arkansas River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. Mud wants the boys to help him reunite with his girlfriend, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). Mud killed a man who impregnated Juniper and caused her to lose the baby by pushing her down a flight of stairs. The law and bounty hunters are searching for Mud. Jealousy, betrayal, separation, revenge and violence are prominent themes in "Mud". They issue from the main theme, the difficulty in human relationships, particularly the relationship between man and woman, husband and wife, which often starts off so promisingly and hopeful. Snakes are also a theme in "Mud", particularly the Cottonmouth, a poisonous water moccasin. Early in the movie Ellis says, "I hate snakes." To which Mud replies, "That's because God put um here for us to fear." Later in the movie as Ellis' parents argue while their marriage disintegrates into separation and probable divorce, Ellis' father Senior (Ray McKinnon) accuses his wife and Ellis' mother Mary Lee (Sarah Paulson), of raising Ellis to be "a snake just like herself." In Genesis 3:12 after Adam and Eve fell for the temptation of the Serpent, the Snake, we see the first division in human relationships between the man and his wife: "The woman whom you put here with me - she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it." This will eventually lead to murderous violence as Cain kills his brother Abel. When Ellis and Neckbone first learn that someone else is on the small island where they are hiding a boat, they see a footprint in which it looks like a cross is in the heel of a boot. But Mud eventually tells the boys that he has "nails shaped like crosses" in his boots. Jesus nailed to a Cross has obtained the Grace to heal human beings and repair their sometimes stormy, and even violent relationships. I thought "Mud" was excellent with an exciting climax. How refreshing it is to see an unabashedly Southern story in which the Southerners aren't being portrayed as stupid yokels. Mark Twain, whom "Mud" writer and director Jeff Nichols mentions in an extra after the movie, knew good stories could be set in the South. Would that more modern creative people would learn that the South isn't just part of "flyover country". Reese Witherspoon, a Tennessee native, touches on this also in an extra, saying, "There aren't a lot of Southern film makers." Texan Matthew McConaughey as Mud is excellent as always. He's now on the A-List, if he wasn't already, after his Best Actor Oscar win for "Dallas Buyers Club". But he remains an interesting character actor. Read more
