jasperan I was disappointed with the fact that Mud didn't find what he came for in the end. Also, I thought that the relationship between Mud and the boys was a little forced, and would've never worked outside of a film, given Neckbone's strong personality and protectiveness towards himself and Ellis.

muons This is an OK movie with a decent cast and nice scenery from Mississippi river but not a masterpiece as some reviewers blow out of proportion. The acting was good and the story was engaging enough. The pace is in general slow but it's not entirely devoid of action as to put one to sleep. The focus is primarily on Tye Sheridan and M. McConahey and the strong bond between them. Indeed, I'm surprised Reese Witherspoon accepted that role which doesn't truly add much to the story. I wouldn't see it again but don't consider my time wasted either.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 2012-2013 and written & directed by Jeff Nichols, "Mud" is a southern gothic crime drama taking place in Arkansas along the Mississippi River where two boys discover a fugitive named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island and decide to help him evade the authorities & vigilantes that are on his trail in hope of reuniting him with his true love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). This is a film about authentic Southern people and the code by which they live. Urbanized types usually refer to them as "rednecks." While some of them may be "white trash," most of them are not. They're independent of the government, hardworking and respectful citizens, not to mention rooted in Christian morality, although not necessarily Christians. The film respects the intelligence of the viewer, leaving it to him/her to read between the lines. It's similar to "Joe," which was released a year later, but not as abrasively pessimistic and is overall better. In tone, it's akin to "Undertow" (2004) and "Snow Angels" (2007). If you appreciate those flicks, you'll like "Mud." There are a lot of gems to mine: Ellis (Tye Sheridan) mirrors Mud as an adolescent. Will he make the same mistakes that brought Mud to his current state? The movie's basically a rumination on the potential in both masculinity and femininity for good or bad, but the focus is more on the toxicity of some women, which is refreshing, as Hollywood tends to paint men as evil incarnate or thoroughly inept while women are usually sterling examples of eminent nobility (Why Sure!). The film also reveals the idealization of love and how "love is blind." Just because you truly love someone in a romantic sense doesn't mean s/he is good for you and that you should develop & maintain a relationship. I was never a fan of Witherspoon, but didn't dislike her either. In any case, she's quite good as the seemingly innocent-yet-toxic love interest. Bonnie Sturdivant is excellent as her teenage counterpart, May Pearl; they should've done more with her. THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hour 10 minutes and was shot in Arkansas (Crocketts Bluff, Eudora, Dumas and Stuttgart). ADDITIONAL CAST: Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks and Joe Don Baker. GRADE: B/B+

yellowpvision This movie had my attention from the first second to the last one. I couldn't take my eye off of it, enjoyed it plenty. As the movie goes on, you get to know more about each character in an interesting manner. I could relate much to those boys because I used to be adventurous at that age and I grew up in the country. I'd definitely recommend you to watch it.