Mud

Movie Title--  Mud

Release Year--  2012

Director--  Jeff Nichols

Cast--  Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon

Two boys find a boat in a tree and upon examining it, they find that someone is living there.  Soon after they encounter a strange man named Mud and one of the boys soon develop a friendship with him.  When the Boy learns that Mud is a fugitive of the law, he confronts him and finds out that Mud has come back for the love of his life.  The boy decides to help reunite the two lovers while his own life is dissolving around him.

Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and his friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) sail down the Mississippi River to a small island to explore a boat stuck in a tree.  They soon realize that someone is living in the boat and when they get back to the beach they see the man standing there.  The man asks for food in exchange for the boat when he is finished with it.  Neckbone is reluctant about it but Ellis decides to take him some food.  Once back on the beach he finds out the man is called Mud (Matthew McConaughey) and Ellis befriends him.  Ellis soon learns that Mud is a fugitive from the law and demands to know why.  Mud tells him the reason and that he is only there to meet up with the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon)  and they would leave together.  Ellis decides it is the right thing to do to help Mud and Juniper reunite and wants to help them, although he has to deal with his own problems.  He is dealing with his parents (Sarah Paulson and Ray McKinnon) and their dissolving marriage while having his own personal problems with the girl he likes May Pearl (Bonnie Sturdivant).  

Ever hear the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover"?  That is how I feel about this movie.  For some reason I saw this film and decided that I was not going to watch it.  I just flat out refused to watch a movie called "Mud" and it didn't matter that it has Matthew McConaughey in it, I wasn't going to watch it.  So a few days ago I was watching something on Netflix and it popped up "You watched this movie, you may like these movies too" and "Mud" happened to be on the list.  This has happened more than once, so, I finally broke down and watched it.  Can I say, I was NOT disappointed.

McConaughey plays Mud, a man on the run that has a way of expanding the truth.  His stories are all based on truth but are made up of lies to make the story bigger than it really is.  McConaughey does a great job of playing this character and really portrays the spirit of a man that would do anything for the woman he loves.  Ty Sheridan who plays the character of Ellis was really fun to watch too.  He is young but I think that as long as the parts are available he will be one to watch for the future.  

I would recommend this movie to anyone that is in a McConaughey kind of mood.  The story was very interesting and the acting was excellent.  Don't expect to hear his trademark "Alright, alright, alright" or you will be dissapointed because it doesn't show up in this film.   If you decided  to have a McConaughey movie marathon night (surely I am not the only person that picks an actor I like and have a movie marathon), add this movie to the list.  I hope you enjoy this film and Don't Forget the Popcorn!