Starring: Tye Sheridan, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Ray McKinnon
Written By: Jeff Nichols
Directed By: Jeff Nichols
Matthew McConaughey had a great year. He delivered a series of performances that are award worthy, yet he’s never been nominated for an Oscar. Could he change all that this year? Dallas Buyers Club is the stronger film and the stronger performance, but Mud is some nice icing on top of the cake. It also features a strong debut performance from Tye Sheridan, as well as a really good supporting cast. Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Paulson are notable standouts.
Mud doesn’t seem to go the full mile in putting either of the two main boys in a real situation where you think one of them might die. It also never really makes you think Mud himself is a bad guy. The cops are after him. He says he killed a guy. But he’s so nice that the cops must be wrong about him, right? As a film, Mud drags along. Not horribly, but a little bit of editing couldn’t have hurt. Even just a few minutes off might have made a better finished product.
FINAL GRADE: B