I can't think of too many movies I've seen in the past year that I've looked forward to more than Mud. After seeing, writer/director Jeff Nichols' first two films, Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter, I had incredibly high expectations. When I hear Michael Shannon was not the lead, I was concerned, but Matthew McConaughey's performances in Bernie and Killer Joe led me to believe he could convey the quirky dark qualities needed to be a Nichols lead.
Sadly, I was mistaken. Mud falls short in reaching the level that the first two films did. This is not to say the movie is bad, because it isn't by any means. It is just crosses a line that I've come to despise and the outcome was pure Hollywood. The shining star of the movie are Tye Sheridan, who plays the 14 year old Ellis. Aside from being in nearly every scene, he is believable on every level. The problem is that the title character doesn't truly fit the role. McConaughey is a very good actor, but he's too good looking, too polished and not gritty enough for this part. He doesn't look like he's lived a tough life and that is where Shannon would have been perfect.
The film shines bright on it's reflection of the women involved. Throughout the film, the three women involved, Ellis' mother, his "girlfriend" and Juniper, Mud's love interest all are viewed in terms of how others see them, but by the end of the movie, they reveal their character and independence and it's done so subtly that it almost definitely missed by the casual viewer. It's really, what the film is about. The problem is the final scene, completely sells out and leaves the viewer with an answer, where none would have been much more powerful. One scene too many completely changed the feel of the movie and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Sadly, I was mistaken. Mud falls short in reaching the level that the first two films did. This is not to say the movie is bad, because it isn't by any means. It is just crosses a line that I've come to despise and the outcome was pure Hollywood. The shining star of the movie are Tye Sheridan, who plays the 14 year old Ellis. Aside from being in nearly every scene, he is believable on every level. The problem is that the title character doesn't truly fit the role. McConaughey is a very good actor, but he's too good looking, too polished and not gritty enough for this part. He doesn't look like he's lived a tough life and that is where Shannon would have been perfect.
The film shines bright on it's reflection of the women involved. Throughout the film, the three women involved, Ellis' mother, his "girlfriend" and Juniper, Mud's love interest all are viewed in terms of how others see them, but by the end of the movie, they reveal their character and independence and it's done so subtly that it almost definitely missed by the casual viewer. It's really, what the film is about. The problem is the final scene, completely sells out and leaves the viewer with an answer, where none would have been much more powerful. One scene too many completely changed the feel of the movie and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
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