Mud, 2012.
Written and Directed by Jeff Nichols.
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Reese Witherspoon, and Michael Shannon.
SYNOPSIS:
A fourteen year old boy learns some valuable life lessons when he meets the mysterious Mud.
Following on from the fantastic psychological (with a hint of religious undertone) character drama Take Shelter, Jeff Nichols embarks on his third writing and directorial outing with the coming of age drama Mud. The story follows teenager Ellis (Tye Sheridon) and his friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who live on an estuary of the Mississippi River in Arkansas, USA. When they travel out in to the Mississippi River to a small island in search of an abandoned boat, they discover a man living there who transforms young Ellis’ life.
Living on scraps of food on an uninhabited island, the mysterious Mud (Matthew McConaughey) is immediately fascinating to Ellis, he attempts to help him by bringing him more food and a friendship begins to emerge. The strength of Take Shelter was in the characters that Nichols had created, and in Mud he has created even stronger and more engaging characters. Ellis is like any fourteen year old; absent minded, care free and idealistic in his naivety – the world is very black and white. In Mud he sees a very interesting adult, unlike anyone he has met before; he’s a fascinating figure that has gravitas that draws the audience and Ellis in, wanting to know more about why he’s there living the way he is. McConaughey is superb in the role, offering the charm and deepness of the character in equal mesmerising quantities.
As the story unfolds, what Mud is really about is love and being true to oneself. Love is a powerful force, both positive and negative, and we must be careful not to let it consume us to the point that our lives suffer as a consequence. Ellis experiences the downfall of three romantic relationships – his own, his parents and Mud’s – each for different reasons, and with each teaching him a different and valuable lesson. Sixteen year old Tye Sheridan does an outstanding job as Ellis; taking on the lead in a film with Matthew McConaughey in a role that is extremely demanding is no easy task, and this young actor absolutely succeeds in conveying all the necessary emotions that are required of him. Jacob Lofland as his friend, Neckbone, plays a really great part, providing many humorous moments and bringing a bit of lightheartedness to a serious film demanding serious attention. Michael Shannon is very much underused, and his inclusion in such a small role is perplexing.
With its setting in the South of the United States on the Mississippi, the cinematography has so much to work with and is stunning at times, especially when dawn and dusk are captured on the river. The script is wonderful, and Nichols really creates characters that you care about, despite their obvious flaws; they’re human beings with real human motives, and it is brilliant writing.
Despite being a cautionary tale of the trappings of love, Mud is also about hope, really, as whilst our worlds may come crashing down around us at times, the strength of humanity is our ability to move on: to adapt and rebuild. Mud is truly a film worth seeing, and is one you’ll be wanting to applaud when it ends.
Flickering Myth Rating: Film ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Martin Deer
Originally published May 23, 2013. Updated April 14, 2018.
