Mud

Actors are always trying to reinvent themselves, either because they've been out of the loop for a while, or because they believe that their career is sluggish, not challenging, or incredibly typecast. I believe, for whatever Matthew McConaughey's reason for reinvention was, he definitely needed a change in his career, and what a better project to achieve this then by taking on the character of "Mud".

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 tough 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 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 footprints in their boat. And that's when they meet Mud (McConaughey). Mud is a gritty superstitious character; his clothes are dirty, his tooth is cracked, and he needs help. He makes a pact with these two boys-- he will give them the boat in exchange for food. They end up developing a tentative friendship.
Ellis inadvertently finds out that Mud killed a man in Texas and police and bounty hunters are looking for him, but Mud is concerned about reuniting with his longtime love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) whose holed up in a local motel. But out of compassion for true love, Ellis agrees to help him along with his buddy Neckbone. Ellis' folks marriage is strained, so he feels that by helping these two is worth all to reunite Mud with his true love.

Others to round out the cast are Sam Shepard as Tom Blankenship, a neighbor across the river from Ellis, Paul Sparks as Carver, brother of the man Mud killed, Joe Don Baker as King, Johnny Cheek as Kyle, and Bonnie Sturdivant as May Pearl.

This was creatively written and directed by Jeff Nichols ("Shotgun Stories" '07, "Take Shelter" '11). The pacing and emotions that were emitted in this were amazingly well staged, practically effortless. McConaughey really shined in this. He could possibly garner a nod come Oscar time. I always knew he could act, it was just getting right role and this was it. He's performed well in other projects, "A Time to Kill" comes to mind, but this definitely put him back on the map again. Tye Sheridan as Ellis also was incredibly effective as this young boy trying to make that transition from boy to young man.

For all the films to see out there right now, you really want to catch this one. Films like this do not come along too often, and to miss this one would be criminal. It's not a warm and fuzzy feeling film, but one that will have you riveted in your seat.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                         Rated: PG-13                         130mins.