Mud

If you’re like me, you missed this when it came to the theater. (Due to its limited release, it might not have even come to your theater at all.) Mud, written and directed by newcomer Jeff Nichols, received some acclaim from both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals but never got much love from American movie-goers. What a shame!

Though it’s not a film I think a ton of people will love, I believe those who are willing to set aside their penchant for constant explosions and special effects will appreciate this little secret. Mud features a heavy sense of place that covers you like an old memory, giving you the feeling that you’ve seen these places before. Kudos to Nichols has given us a well-written drama with a Tom Sawyer-esque vibe that powerfully pulls you towards its emotional conclusion.

Mud churns and flows along like the Mississippi River on which it is set, featuring a wonderful cast whose performances are spot-on. So many times, films set in Southern culture are grossly overdone, leaving us with cardboard caricatures rather than genuine characters that we want to know more about. Not so with Mud. Matthew McConaughey leads a fantastic ensemble with Tye Sheridan, Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon, and Michael Shannon in supporting roles. The performances are effortless and noteworthy, especially that of Sheridan who I GUARANTEE you will see in future roles.

With themes of family, sacrifice, hard-won wisdom, and the consequences of choices, Mud delivers as a gritty, soulful, and smoldering film which is one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated of the year.