Mud (PG-13)
10/03/14 21:54 Filed in: 2013
Starring: Matthew McConaughey
May 2013
This review was originally tweeted in Real-time from the back row of a movie theater and appears @BackRoweReviews. Though efforts were made to tease rather than ruin this movie’s memorable lines and moments, some spoilers may exist in the following evaluation. The original tweets appear in black, while follow-up comments appear in red. For concerns over objectionable content, please first refer to one of the many parental movie guide websites. All ratings are based on a four star system. Happy reading!
Great atmosphere from the get go.
Ah Michael Shannon again. From villain to deadbeat.
Beanee Weenie’s at the Piggly Wiggly. Yep, we’re in the Deep South.
Correction: Beanee Weenee. Almost got myself in trouble there.
How to un-tree a boat?
“We’re just selling fish.” Intense scene.
Many mixed messages about the nature of love.
Good complexity on this subject throughout the movie.
Bounty hunter convention at the motel.
“We don’t need their scum!”
To Mud’s island at night sans Juniper.
Ellis slugged again and then falls into a pit. Overall, not a banner day for the young boy.
Taut shoot-out on the riverfront.
Ashes to ashes, Mud to mud.
If I had it to do over again, I’d put a question mark at the end of this phrase.
All in all, a starkly real tale of life in the Arkansas swamplands.
Big name actors turn in fine performances, but young actors who play Ellis and Neckbone steal the show.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 4. Next up: Prepare yourself for World War Z with Brad Pitt.
A decent indie with a top-notch turn by McConaughey. Witherspoon is perfectly cast and Shepard delivers the kind of solid support you’d expect from such a superb career actor. Beautiful location footage throughout is a big plus. With a strong sense of place, this is a great way to escape for a couple hours into a remote region of our nation.