Review- Mud

On DVD and BLU RAY - "Mud" -This coming of age tale of two teenaged boys and the grungy, good-hearted fugitive they encounter on the Mississippi River will surely end up as one of the best Dramas of 2013.  Matthew McConaughey (The Lincoln Lawyer) gives a career-best performance as the superstitious, chip-toothed, titular character while 15 year old Tye Sheridan cements himself as the next young male talent to watch.  Expect a wealth of excellent cinematography (with Arkansas subbing for Mississippi) in this Stand By Me meets Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn story of Southern manhood and the delusion of chivalry through the eyes of an adolescent.  It's a slow-burn affair that requires a bit of patience- just when I thought it was about to overstay it's welcome, it ends with a heckuva showdown and on an optimistic note.

Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland play "Ellis" and "Neckbone", respectively, two juvenile river rats whose exploits on the Mississippi River lead to the discovery of a boat left stranded in a tree on a small island.  With intentions to make the structure their treehouse getaway, they soon realize that a fugitive from justice has already claimed the site as a hideout.  In an effort to evade bounty hunters and the authorities via the waterways, Matthew McConaughey's "Mud" forms a pact with the two boys, promising them his .45 pistol in return for their help in setting up a reunion with the love of his life by making the craft river-worthy again. 

16 year-old Tye Sheridan (The Tree Of Life), essentially the star of the film, shines as a sensitive teen witnessing the erosion of his parent's marriage and faced with the prospect of losing his river-side home in the process.  Caught up in the middle of that uncomfortable transition called adolescence and experiencing the dwindling presence of his Father, Ellis takes a shine to the peculiar Mud and his rough-around-the-edges, noble-minded ways.  It's a subtle but powerful performance that should surely be recognized come awards season.  Sheridan faces a very bright future in film.

Matthew McConaughey couldn't be better in what I believe, thus far, to be the finest role of his career.  Mud is a tragic character that McConaughey breathes a wealth of fresh life and considerable depth into- the Uvalde, Texas native is putting in much sharper, more heartfelt work in what can be seen as a very promising resurgance.  It's good to see the actor part with the easy paychecks involved with the lazy Rom-Coms that he could have so easily settled into.

Jacob Lofland also puts in excellent work as Neckbone, Ellis's best friend- the 16 year old Arkansas native makes his film debut here, delivering the lion's share of the film's funniest lines.  I don't see anything else on his IMDB.com filmography, but there's no good reason he shouldn't secure future age-appropriate roles.

The film also features Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line) at her white-trash sexiest as Mud's star-crossed lover, "Juniper".  It's an underwritten role, though Witherspoon puts in solid work. Sarah Paulson (Serenity) and Ray McKinnon (The Blind Side) portray Ellis's Mother and Father, respectively- Paulson is commendable while McKinnon, often cast for his outwardly southern attributes and interesting face, has grown into an excellent character actor.

Sam Shephard (The Right Stuff) is great in support as a man from Mud's past- his talents as a former sniper come into crowd-pleasing play late in the film.  That damned high flat-top haircut his character sports is somewhat distracting, though.

Michael Shannon (HBO's Boardwalk Empire) is mystifyingly underutilized in a few brief appearances as Neckbone's cool, likeable Uncle, "Galen".  Shannon has starred in the two previous films from Director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Shotgun Stories) and I'm guessing their good rapport led to the cameo here- so much more could have been done with this character that I felt it was the film's only outright blemish. 

Joe Don Baker (1973's Walking Tall) plays the vengeful Father of the man whom Mud killed in a dispute over Juniper, while Paul Sparks (HBO's Boardwark Empire) plays his menacing, surviving son- expect a rather strange scene where Baker's character kneels with his hired guns before sending them on their manhunt. 

Director Nichols keeps proceedings moving at a leisurely but deliberate pace towards a confrontational conclusion.  The film's 130 minute run-time might prove a bit trying for some, though I'd highly recommend sticking with it- the ominous setup of a creek teaming with water moccasins gave me the willies while a nifty, climactic shootout was most rewarding. There's an undeniable undercurrent of impeding doom throughout the film, with an intelligent, well-rounded script and the likeable performances supplied by Sheridan and McConaughey working wonders to help effectively build tension for an invested audience. It's a beautifully shot, excellently acted Southern Drama that's comfortably amongst the best, truly American films released in the last several years.

Again, Highly Recommended for those interested.

8.5 out of 10