Review: 'Mud'

Having seen all of Jeff Nichol's films now, from 'Shotgun Stories', 'Take Shelter' and now 'Mud', I have a strong feeling that this guy is going to become one of the next big auteur directors. As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing wrong with that at all. I look forward to more of his work.

In Arkansas, two young boys are out and about one day when they find a boat in a tree on an island housing a man who goes by the name of Mud (Matthew McConaughey). Mud claims he's waiting for his girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon) so that they can run away together. The two boys decide to help Mud with his mission. But one day, they discover that Mud is a wanted man. Despite the shocking news, the boys continue to help him anyway. How long they can evade the law is anyone's guess.

Many crime dramas these days seem to forget that what makes emotion and thrills flow from it's viewers is the pacing and characters, along with the situations they're in. It's not about the suspense, shock-value or violence. Those things have a tendency to get in the way, with this particular genre. But this film knows better. This is not only a good character study, but it's also a coming of age story. In many respects, this is the young boy Ellis's story, and how he dealt with this one particular incident at this particular point in his life.

To not sound too sappy, there is deep symbolism in here as Mud himself is almost a mirror image of the type of man young Ellis could become if he doesn't shape up and pull himself together. Easier said than done, Ellis isn't doing too well, seeing as how his parents contemplate divorce. And as that happens, Ellis befriends a girl who could be for him, but just maybe he's thinking too far ahead. That's one of the main things I loved about the film, how Mud becomes a sort of father figure to Ellis in a way that his real father never has been. Throughout their bonding, Ellis is taught the true meaning of friendship, respect, loyalty and, yes, even love. Surprisingly, there are many heartwarming scenes in this movie and they also don't feel too forced upon you as well. They're just genuine that way.

I was deeply admiring this film and how it was slowly unraveling things, one after the other. Unfortunately, once it got through to the middle of the third act, that's when things start turning from believable and unique to just conventional, hollywood crime thriller status. It's a bit of a big disappointment on that front and brings the film down a couple notches. But not by much. If there is one more thing I would have to criticize about 'Mud', it would be the fact on how there are many things introduced and brought to our attention throughout the course of the film, almost promising a full resolution in the end. Many, if not most of them, don't happen. It's like those scenes and moments were strictly there as nothing but filler for the running time.

I liked this film better than 'Shotgun Stories', but it's nowhere near the greatness of 'Take Shelter', which I deeply adored. There's nothing to hate here though, and that's just grand. It's new filmmakers like Jeff Nichol's that help reimburse my faith in the future of movies.

My rating: 3 / 4