Mud (2012)

Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.

Director:

Jeff Nichols

Writer:

Jeff Nichols

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Matthew McConaughey	...	Mud
Reese Witherspoon	...	Juniper
Tye Sheridan	...	Ellis
Jacob Lofland	...	Neckbone
Sarah Paulson	...	Mary Lee
Ray McKinnon	...	Senior
Sam Shepard	...	Tom Blankenship
Michael Shannon	...	Galen
Paul Sparks	...	Carver
Joe Don Baker	...	King
Johnny Cheek	...	Kyle
Bonnie Sturdivant	...	May Pearl
Stuart Greer	...	Miller
Clayton Carson	...	Pryor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Abbott Jr.	...	James

Storyline

14 year-old Ellis (Tye Sheridan) lives on a makeshift houseboat on the banks of a river in Arkansas with his parents, Mary Lee (Sarah Paulson) and Senior (Ray McKinnon). He sneaks out early one morning to meet his best friend, Neckbone (Jacob Lofland). Neckbone, also 14, lives with his uncle, Galen (Michael Shannon), who makes a hardscrabble living diving for oysters. The two boys set out to an island on the Mississippi River, where Neckbone has discovered an unusual sight-a boat, suspended high in the trees, a remnant of an extreme flood some time in the past. They climb the tree and into the boat only to find fresh bread and fresh footprints. Realizing that they are not the only ones who have discovered the treehouse boat, they decide to leave. When they reach the shore, they find the same footprint in their boat. And that's when they meet Mud (Matthew McConaughey). Mud is a gritty, superstitious character; his clothes are dirty, his tooth is cracked, and he needs help. He tells the...

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Plot Keywords:

fugitive | teenage boy | boy | bounty hunter | pact | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ha'sipour shel Mud

Filming Locations:

Mississippi River, Eudora, Arkansas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,215,460 (USA) (26 April 2013)

Gross:

$11,650,000 (USA) (17 May 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Everest Entertainment, Brace Cove Productions, FilmNation Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chris Pine was originally considered for this role.

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Goofs

After Ellis falls into the creek and gets bitten by the black snakes, Neckbone runs back to the boat to tell Mud what happened. Mud, who is shirtless at the moment, grabs his shirt from the bush where it was hanging and we see Mud and Neckbone start running up the sand to the creek to help Ellis. As they run away from the camera Mud is throwing his shirt on loosely over his shoulders. In the next shot we see Mud and Neckbone running towards the camera and Mud's shirt is fully buttoned up.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Picture: November 2011 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"May Pearl"
Written and Performed by Jeff McIlwain

User Reviews

Absolutely gripping, moving, and beautiful - a must see!

It isn't fair compare this title directly to other films, but I will anyway. So here goes: Huck Finn with a dash of Deliverance, Winters Bone, and Tree of Life. By the way, I hated Tree of Life, which WAS beautiful but entirely too experimental for my liking (I would have been fine with it as an exhibit at a modern art museum). But Mud is a film that is a pleasure to look at, and also has a fantastic story that weaves in poverty, youth, the loss of innocence, love, and violence.

The life in a small town depiction is completely spot on. I am from a small town (West, Texas, which recently experienced the tragic explosion), and the people, locations, and attitudes are completely believable. Anyone who was a boy in a rural area will really connect with the story.

The writing and directing is brilliant. It is the perfect blend of pacing, dialog, and action. The acting all around is top notch. Matthew McConaughey delivers an Oscar caliber performance; I liked this even more than his role in Frailty (which if you are looking for a great suspense / thriller, that is a must-watch). Supporting characters are completely effective and convincing. The actors playing the two boys deliver amazing performances; I suspect we will be seeing this young men for decades to come.

I am hoping that this movie gets recognized as the outstanding piece of film that it is. It is gorgeous to watch, and the locations feel far, far away from a Hollywood studio. But this is not just a pretty "art" film; it has an outstanding story that will grip you from start to finish.

In summary, I kinda liked it ... A+, a rare and solid 10!