Now here’s something we haven’t seen in awhile – a good old fashioned ‘kids coming of age’ tale. The setting is right, on the banks of the Mississippi, and the characters are right, with two young teens, in a homage to old American adventure books, except it’s aimed at adults or least a more mature audience. With that, does Mud get stuck within itself or does it pull itself away?
After spotting a decent looking boat up in a tree on an island in the middle of the Arkansas river, two boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan, The Tree Of Life) and Neckbone (a debuting Jacob Lofland) run into the enigmatic drifter who gives his name as Mud (Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike). Offering the young teenagers a deal in exchange for supplies to get the boat working again, Mud is actually on the run from both the law and Texas gangsters after one of them made a violent move on his girlfriend Juniper (Reese Witherspoon, This Means War). Along with some eccentric riverland characters, the trial and tribulations begin to help an escaping Mud reunite with Juniper before he gets found.
Despite being the main attraction and the titular character, McConaughey takes a backseat to proceedings for the most part. What with Mud being stuck on his island fixing his getaway boat for most of the film, he doesn’t do a great deal. Yet he creates a fascinating tramp with a ‘someday my Queen will come’ vibe even if it’s gloriously hicky. It’s not as memorable as his turn in Killer Joe but another stamp on his good-actor CV, showing again he’s not just a showpony to trot out for the girls.
The evolution of Mud and McConaughey’s portrayal of it was enjoyable; going from a renowned mysterious bullshitter, talking about his magic shirt and the power of his snake tattoos, to a broken, angry man whose only saving grace is the friendship he’s made with the two boys (despite using them for the most part); it gives him a rare chance to show off his acting chops, and it’s only a shame he hasn’t had something a bit more mainstream to show off his undoubted ability.
Now the real star of the show is Sheridan, who captures the awkwardness of early teen Ellis. Going through puberty, meeting that girl you like for the first time, and being in the middle of a messy divorce, is all rather stressful but when you throw in being pressured by a complete stranger to do his shifty bidding, it would tear anyone else apart. Not Ellis, who somehow keeps it together for the most part barring one or two breakdowns by the end credits. Top job from Sheridan.
Lofland as Neckbone is more of a comic relief and seems as if they just paid some local kid $50 to say some lines, he’s that authentic. Mud manages to get a neat little performance out of Michael Shannon (Premium Rush) as Neckbone’s young, surfer-esque uncle. Completely random, and small, but terrific nonetheless. Juniper is only a small role too in the scheme of the film but Witherspoon isn’t a great actress and could have done a lot more to make it her own, considering she is meant to be the motivation for Mud. Wizened veteran Sam Shepard (Black Hawk Down) is more memorable as the private old chap who lives on a house boat across the river, who spends his days shooting water snakes.
The first thing you’ll notice is the rather unsettling mood director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter) has created in the background. It’s not too dark but there’s a sense of unease brewing in the background. There’s just something there that makes you feel uncomfortable and that something isn’t right. The journey of Ellis through the runtime is rather personal about the start of his progression into a man. It’s a reflection of Nichols’ upbringing in Arkansas and definitely influenced by the Mark Twain adventure tales he’s admittedly fond of growing up in a lower, murky, corner of the world.
To be honest though, at times you could be forgiven for thinking this could be a children’s film. Cut out some of the swears and innuendos, the hickishness of the main characters, and remove the guns from the shootout finale, and it could easily slip by. Course it’d be the wrong audience for the evolution of most of the characters, but with a rather upbeat ending (despite the awkward themes of betrayal, heartbreak, and broken families, amongst other things), it’s a good case.
Thematically Mud is rich and doesn’t get stuck in itself. Everything makes sense and progresses naturally. There’s some decent emotion when you see the goal Mud has been working on the entire time ruined completely. The film is built entirely on this and there is some wonder lost about the intrigue of Mud when he becomes all serious in the final third, ruining his mask in a good way.
Overall a nice little mood piece I wasn’t expecting – pleasantly surprised. Sadly, Mud won’t get the audience it deserves here in UK because it’s out right at the start of blockbuster season. Hopefully it will find better exposure when it’s released on other formats. Not it’s intention but it’s a very nice revivial of coming of age dramas that we haven’t seen in awhile. Cute.
Terry Lewis – @thatterrylewis.
