REVIEW: Mud

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Matthew McConaughey deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance in Mud, a masterful piece of Southern gothic storytelling. That sentence would’ve been laughable a few years ago, but lately it has evolved into a common assertion among film critics. The easy-on-the-eyes Texan launched his Hollywood career with stellar work in Dazed and Confused, Lone Star and A Time to Kill, but he eventually became a punchline by coasting in lazy romantic comedies like Failure to Launch and Fool’s Gold.

Then one day – sometime in 2010 – the actor sat up and decided to start taking his career seriously again. He made The Lincoln Lawyer and Bernie, the former reconnecting mainstream audiences with the delightfully smarmy characters he excels at playing and the latter reminding critics that he can still be a great actor when he chooses to be. McConaughey continued plugging away with acclaimed performances in the little-seen indie flicks Killer Joe and The Paperboy.

After that, he blew the doors off with a supporting turn in last summer’s Magic Mike. Poking fun at his public persona, the actor played a villain so mesmerizing that many (including me) thought he was a contender for a Best Supporting Actor nomination. I still think he was robbed, but he’s got another chance at the little gold guy thanks to his work as the titular character in Mud. It might be the best thing he’s ever done.

What’s more, his young co-star Tye Sheridan matches him every step of the way in one of the most confident child performances I can remember. He’s funny, heartwarming and tragic, sometimes all at once. His name needs to be included in the Oscar conversation as much as McConaughey’s.

Written and directed by Jeff Nichols – and clearly inspired by Mark Twain – Mud is an adventure about two boys, Ellis (Sheridan) and his best friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who discover a boat wedged in the top of a tree while exploring an island in the middle of the Mississippi River. They quickly realize someone is living there: a drifter who calls himself Mud (McConaughey) and tells them he’s only in town long enough to meet up with the love of his life, a woman named Juniper (Reese Witherspoon).

He explains that he’s on the run because he killed Juniper’s abusive boyfriend, and now the man’s family is tracking him with the help of bounty hunters. Skeptical at first, the boys eventually agree to help him gather the materials he needs to get the abandoned boat running again. Adding to Ellis’ stress is the fact that his mother (Sarah Paulson) and father (Ray McKinnon) are contemplating a divorce that would tear him away from his beloved riverside home.

Nicholas skillfully juggles numerous influences and fuses them into a singular, compelling narrative that treats its Southern characters with respect rather than portraying them as rednecks. There’s obviously a lot of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn in Ellis and Neckbone, but the film also contains touches of To Kill a Mockingbird, Sling Blade and even a trace of the magical realism that made Beasts of the Southern Wild so wonderful.

The script isn’t perfect – some heavy-handed foreshadowing involving snakes virtually announces the film’s climax – but overall it tells a brilliant story that is strengthened by gorgeous cinematography and superb acting. I’ve already praised McConaughey and Sheridan, but there’s not a bad performance in the bunch. Even Witherspoon, who has also gotten bogged down in bad romcoms recently, does solid work in a tough, thankless role.

I’ve been a fan of McKinnon since his brief turn in The Stand, and his scenes with Sheridan and Paulson (who’s equally strong) prove yet again that my admiration is not misplaced. The great Sam Shepard also turns up for a few scenes, bring even more authenticity – and a hint of danger – to the proceedings. I also loved Michael Shannon (who has now appeared in all three of Nichols’ films) in his brief turn as Neckbone’s eccentric uncle. Usually typecast in menacing roles, it’s great to see him get to be funny and protective for a change.

Even with a stellar cast and rapturous reviews, there’s always a chance that a modest film like Mud will fall through the cracks. I hope that doesn’t happen – only two weeks after declaring Iron Man 3 my favorite movie of the year, Mud has already replaced it. Stranger things have happened, but I don’t see how it stays off my 10 Best List in December. If you already have summer movie fatigue, consider visiting the theater at Arbor Place Mall to support a real gem.

Mud is rated PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking.

Grade: A