[Spoiler Warning]
A great character developing story, about a boy named Ellis and his friend Neckbone trying to help a man nick named 'Mud'.
But the film was really about Ellis trying to find out what love is and if it can last. Ellis has three influences of love in his life, his parents who split up near the begining of the film (shattering Ellis's view of love). The second is May Pearl, who shows interest in Ellis, but eventually ignores and even mocks him because of his age. The third and final influence is Mud and his undying love for Juniper (Mud's girlfriend).
When Mud decides he can't love Juniper any more, Ellis breaks down, as it was his last piece of evidence that love can last, this is shown when he is crying and shouting at Mud.
However it isn't all bad as Ellis begins to see that there are different types of love (as the parents love for their child) and that there is always the possibility for new love, as shown at the end by the girls waving at Ellis.
Overall this was a very enjoyable and heart felt movie with a lot of care and craftsmanship gone into the writing, directing and acting, leaving me with a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment after watching.
8.6/10
I cannot remember the last time I was this excited about a film. Jeff Nichol's crafts a one of the best films I've seen in years and it feels effortless. The script is one of the tightest and most intelligent I've seen put to screen in some time and the cast is outstanding.
This film blends a thriller with a coming of age story and wraps it in a Southern Gothic flavor. There is humor to spare and an intensity to give the whole thing its needed weight. I cannot wait to watch it again.
@TheMrNickolas [Spoiler alert]
I can clearly see your view, but I found it to be about something else. Almost all of the characters seem to have something in common. Ellis' life is falling apart as his parents' relationship breaks, and at the end he has to leave his home. The old man, hunting for Mud, seems to be doing all he can for revenging his son. Neckbone is living with his uncle as he never knew his parents. Tom is the closest Mud ever come to a father, and at the end they are finally yet together. For me it is quite clear that it all sums up being about father and son. Ellis seems to see Mud as a possible new father figure as his old life collapses, and Mud's sort of living seems to be the only possible way of living like Ellis used to. Even the "bad" character (the old man revenging his son) is given sympathy at the end when he gets the call that his second son is dead.
I'm not saying that your point is wrong, as I clearly think that what you are saying is a legit theme. It is just so wonderful how filled with themes this movie is, and how we all seems to see our own things.
It was great until halfway through. At some point it's quality level started slowly but surely crashing all the way down to awful once the bullets started flying. A huge letdown. There was a much more interesting movie buried deep inside, because I liked the themes and all the actors. The one-dimensional bad guys sunk this movie.
If Tye Sheridan isn´t nominated for an academy award, I will be angry.
Matthew McConaughey was really, really good.
Awesome movie, great script, wonderfull performances, one of the best movies that I saw so far this year.
4.25/5
Mud is a slowly-unfolding thriller about two 14-year-olds living on the banks of the Mississippi River, who find a fugitive from the law (Matthew MConaughey) on an island. The kids are great, very natural, and the film reminded me, for all the world, of Stand By Me. Is it me or is the American South recently become the unexplored frontier in American cinema (and high-end TV)? It seems we've had enough of New York and California, which is fine by me. Rural Arkansas provides great, never-seen locations, and brings the story to life with authentic people, placed and values you wouldn't find anywhere else. And though the thriller element drives the plot, the real theme of the story is love, how it disappoints you yet sustains you, and why, for the lead character Ellis (played by young Tie Sheridan), it's so important to find examples of true love in the face of his parents' separation. There's definitely another level under the metaphorical mud. And for McConaughey, it's another winner. He's really brought himself back from the brink these past few years to become one of my favorite character actors after a stretch of romantic comedies and Grisham movies I had no interest in.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 18
TheMrNickolas
[Spoiler Warning]A great character developing story, about a boy named Ellis and his friend Neckbone trying to help a man nick named 'Mud'.
But the film was really about Ellis trying to find out what love is and if it can last. Ellis has three influences of love in his life, his parents who split up near the begining of the film (shattering Ellis's view of love). The second is May Pearl, who shows interest in Ellis, but eventually ignores and even mocks him because of his age. The third and final influence is Mud and his undying love for Juniper (Mud's girlfriend).
When Mud decides he can't love Juniper any more, Ellis breaks down, as it was his last piece of evidence that love can last, this is shown when he is crying and shouting at Mud.
However it isn't all bad as Ellis begins to see that there are different types of love (as the parents love for their child) and that there is always the possibility for new love, as shown at the end by the girls waving at Ellis.
Overall this was a very enjoyable and heart felt movie with a lot of care and craftsmanship gone into the writing, directing and acting, leaving me with a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment after watching.
8.6/10
CSSCHNEIDER
I cannot remember the last time I was this excited about a film. Jeff Nichol's crafts a one of the best films I've seen in years and it feels effortless. The script is one of the tightest and most intelligent I've seen put to screen in some time and the cast is outstanding.This film blends a thriller with a coming of age story and wraps it in a Southern Gothic flavor. There is humor to spare and an intensity to give the whole thing its needed weight. I cannot wait to watch it again.
Consigliere
@TheMrNickolas [Spoiler alert]I can clearly see your view, but I found it to be about something else. Almost all of the characters seem to have something in common. Ellis' life is falling apart as his parents' relationship breaks, and at the end he has to leave his home. The old man, hunting for Mud, seems to be doing all he can for revenging his son. Neckbone is living with his uncle as he never knew his parents. Tom is the closest Mud ever come to a father, and at the end they are finally yet together. For me it is quite clear that it all sums up being about father and son. Ellis seems to see Mud as a possible new father figure as his old life collapses, and Mud's sort of living seems to be the only possible way of living like Ellis used to. Even the "bad" character (the old man revenging his son) is given sympathy at the end when he gets the call that his second son is dead.
I'm not saying that your point is wrong, as I clearly think that what you are saying is a legit theme. It is just so wonderful how filled with themes this movie is, and how we all seems to see our own things.
Pike
It was great until halfway through. At some point it's quality level started slowly but surely crashing all the way down to awful once the bullets started flying. A huge letdown. There was a much more interesting movie buried deep inside, because I liked the themes and all the actors. The one-dimensional bad guys sunk this movie.sourabhk15
Wow....loved this movie. Felt so immersed and realistic especially how it portrayed love. McConaughey is now my favorite actor.Sarahx30stm
Excellent. Great acting, great filming, great director, great movie.Sannenorg
Fucking brillantJoker of Gotham
If Tye Sheridan isn´t nominated for an academy award, I will be angry.Matthew McConaughey was really, really good.
Awesome movie, great script, wonderfull performances, one of the best movies that I saw so far this year.
4.25/5
Ralf
A gripping and charming Southern gothic tale that proves just how reliable Jeff Nichols really is as a filmmaker.asvejas
Matthew McConaughey performance!flaiky
Excellent stuff. Nichols is proving to be one of America's most promising filmmakers.Earring72
Very good coming of age drama about 2 boys helping a convict. Well made and beuatifully shot with great performances allround.Siskoid
Mud is a slowly-unfolding thriller about two 14-year-olds living on the banks of the Mississippi River, who find a fugitive from the law (Matthew MConaughey) on an island. The kids are great, very natural, and the film reminded me, for all the world, of Stand By Me. Is it me or is the American South recently become the unexplored frontier in American cinema (and high-end TV)? It seems we've had enough of New York and California, which is fine by me. Rural Arkansas provides great, never-seen locations, and brings the story to life with authentic people, placed and values you wouldn't find anywhere else. And though the thriller element drives the plot, the real theme of the story is love, how it disappoints you yet sustains you, and why, for the lead character Ellis (played by young Tie Sheridan), it's so important to find examples of true love in the face of his parents' separation. There's definitely another level under the metaphorical mud. And for McConaughey, it's another winner. He's really brought himself back from the brink these past few years to become one of my favorite character actors after a stretch of romantic comedies and Grisham movies I had no interest in.Phillipe Marlowe
Gorgeous lighting along the movie.amir147
Brilliant, I enjoyed the boys acting! Mud was a little creepy and untidy but good.. :DFurthermore the ending was a cliché!
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