Latest
Contact
filmOA v2.0
filmOA | blu-ray
cast&crew | Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Tye Sheridan
clip: hold tight
Matthew McConaughey plays his best role yet in Mud
Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) take a boat out to a remote island on the Mississippi River. They look around the island like nosey neighbors and notice a boat up high in a tree. Climbing up to the boat, Neckbone comes across Playboy magazines whilst Ellis notices fresh bread and tinned food. Both realizing that someone inhabits the boat, they make a break for it. Upon arriving back at their boat on the beach they see footprints in the sand that bare crosses in the heels. They follow the footsteps until they suddenly stop, turning back to see the rugged figure of Mud (Matthew McConaughey) standing over their boat.
Mud is a gritty and suspicious character. He cuts a deal with the two boys; he’ll give them his makeshift boat house in exchange for food. Neckbone is reluctant but Ellis agrees and strikes up a friendship with Mud. With the friendship growing, Mud divulges more about himself. He tells Ellis that he killed a man in Texas and bounty hunters are after him but Mud seems more concerned with trying to reunite with the love of his life Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). Ellis agrees to act as a go between and help Mud escape with his long time lover.
Reese Witherspoon as Juniper
Mud is a abstract look at how love still manages to fuel a person’s desire to survive during the most toughest of times. Tye Sheridan who plays Ellis steals the film away from a very confident and rounded performance by Matthew McConaughey. Sheridan is a future star to look out for; the emotion he portrays through Ellis is raw and very compelling to watch. Ellis and Mud’s relationship is very real, almost brother like. You are given the sense they would both die for one another which is present in the snake bite scene. Mud risks being caught to get Ellis to a hospital all because he sees himself in Ellis. The innocence Mud once had exists in Ellis and that’s a very real feeling you are aware of throughout the film. Mud is one of this year’s best films; intelligent, poignant and a must watch.
filmOA
Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan as Mud and Ellis
84%
worth the popcorn
