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MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

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MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Old 09-27-11, 06:43 PM
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MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by slashfilm.com
Take Shelter director Jeff Nichols is prepping his third film, Mud, and he’s just added quite a few actors to the cast. Take Shelter star Michael Shannon is on board for a small role, and Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon, Joe Don Baker and Paul Sparks are all set to appear alongside leads Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Tye Sheridan in the film that started shooting yesterday in Arkansas.

And if you’re afraid this sounds like just another low-key indie, read on for the director’s description, as he likens the film to Peckinpah directing a story by Mark Twain.

The film is about ” two 14-year-old boys who encounter a mysterious fugitive [McConaughey] hiding out on an island in the Mississippi. Intrigued, they enter into a pact to help him evade capture and reconnect with the love of his life [Witherspoon].”

Variety says Sam Shepard will be “a reclusive character,” while Michael Shannon will be the uncle of one boy and Sarah Paulson and Ray McKinnon will be the parents of the other.

Jeff Nichols has been trying to get Shannon to appear in Mud for a few weeks — scheduling was an issue, thanks to Man of Steel — and during TIFF the director told The Playlist “He’s not the lead, but he’s an important character that shows up.” It sounds like Shannon will only shoot for a few days, so the part will be small. But anything that puts him back under the direction of his Shotgun Stories and Take Shelter director is a very good thing.

The director also described the film to The Playlist at TIFF, saying

I say it’s kind of like if Sam Peckinpah directed a short story by Mark Twain… It’s a contemporary [story], about two fourteen year old boys who find this man hiding out on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River. They help him out. He says he killed a man in Texas and he’s on the run, but he’s kind of likable so they start to help him get things… It’s going to be a tricky film to make because all of the stunts and effects are practical. Shotgun shootouts, dirt bike scenes, snakes and water and all this craziness.

Namedropping Peckinpah and Twain in the same phrase, plus practical stunts and wild shotgun shootouts, all from the guy who has impressed so many this year with Take Shelter. I’m down. In fact, I’m eager. I like the cast and love the description.
Old 09-27-11, 06:50 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

I read a brief bit on this this other day and had no interest. Now I read this, see "Peckinpah" and that interest has risen.
Old 09-27-11, 07:20 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Sounds interesting. Sounds like something David Gordon Green would have directed had he not gone the stoner comedy route in his career.
Old 09-27-11, 07:56 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

I don't know if there are two leading actors that would keep me away from a theater more than McConaughey and Witherspoon! Michael Shannon should get hazard pay for agreeing to be in this!
Old 09-28-11, 12:33 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by GoldenJCJ
Sounds interesting. Sounds like something David Gordon Green would have directed had he not gone the stoner comedy route in his career.
you should see SHOTGUN STORIES (Nichols' debut) which was produced by DGG
Old 09-28-11, 12:58 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Witherspoon...yuck. Everyone else...okay.
Old 05-03-12, 05:28 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

couple images have popped up:


Old 01-16-13, 01:41 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fm7QkappyxI?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fm7QkappyxI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Old 01-16-13, 01:59 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

looks like a jeff nichols movie
Old 01-16-13, 03:36 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Is this the one where McConaughey lost all his weight for?
Old 01-16-13, 03:51 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Shotgun Stories and (especially) Take Shelter were great, so I'm up for anything Jeff Nichols has to offer.

Last edited by Sondheim; 01-16-13 at 04:26 PM.
Old 01-16-13, 04:20 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by Sondheim
Shotgun Shelters and (especially) Take Shelter were great, so I'm up for anything Jeff Nichols has to offer.
o_O
Old 01-16-13, 04:25 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by riotinmyskull
o_O
Oops.

Well Shotgun Shelters probably would be an interesting movie if Nichols were to make it.
Old 01-16-13, 06:35 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

I think it looks good.

When does this movie get released?
Old 01-17-13, 12:55 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

They're scheduled for an April limited release... but it's premiering in the US this weekend at Sundance. i'm so thrilled!
Old 05-03-13, 01:45 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Saw it today. Excellent film.
Old 05-03-13, 02:04 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by GatorDeb
Saw it today. Excellent film.
How was Reese Witherspoon in the film?
Old 05-03-13, 02:12 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Not a whole lot of her. I'm not annoyed by her, though, although I hear a lot of people are. I thought her acting was ok. McConaughey stole the show, though.

She was onscreen about ten minutes total, if that, of a 130 minute film.

Oh wait she's the one who pulled the "Do you know who I am" card and annoys me know. Shows you how memorable she is I forgot I hated her now while watching the movie
Old 05-08-13, 08:08 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

just got back from this...nichols is 3 for 3 in my book. both child actors were fantastic and mcconaughey gives a great performance. as mentioned above witherspoon isn't in the film much but she does a decent job. fantastic cast. i've read a lot of comparisons to spielberg in regards to the teen characters and i'd say that hits the nail on the head. great balance of mystery and tension and a satisfying finale. there aren't a lot of movies like this being made these days and i wish nichols would receive more accolades for his work.

for the record, i'd rank his films as follows:

1. shotgun stories - 5/5
2. mud - 5/5
3. take shelter - 4.5/5

can't wait to see what he does next.

Last edited by riotinmyskull; 06-07-13 at 01:55 PM.
Old 05-09-13, 12:54 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Best modern depiction of the American south i've seen in a long time.. along with Ballast, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Shotgun Stories, Tree of Life, and Killer of Sheep. Being from Arkansas, the film especially moved me.
Old 05-10-13, 02:33 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

Originally Posted by riotinmyskull
just got back from this...nichols is 3 for 3 in my book. both child actors were fantastic and mcconaughey gives a great performance. as mentioned above witherspoon isn't in the film much but she does a decent job. fantastic cast. i've read a lot of comparisons to spielberg in regards to the teen characters and i'd say that hits the nail on the head. great balance of mystery and tension and a satisfying finale. there aren't a lot of movies like this being made these days and i wish nichols would receive more accolades for his work.

for the record, i'd rank his films as follows:

1. shotgun stories - 5/5
2. mud - 4.5/5
3. take shelter - 4.5/5

can't wait to see what he does next.

Good to hear. I'm going to check out Mud this weekend, and I've got Take Shelter on the DVR (still haven't seen that one)
Old 05-10-13, 10:32 PM
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I saw this tonight, and it was amazing. I'd go as far to call it a new modern classic for a new generation along the same way that Stand By Me ended up being back years ago. This is the role that was made for MM (both literally and figuratively) ad he may never have a role greater than this in his career, it was that well done by him. I really can't say enough good things about this one. I may go into more details when I'm not typing on my phone.

Last edited by Brent L; 05-10-13 at 10:43 PM.
Old 05-11-13, 12:52 AM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

2 hours and 4 minutes of pure bliss. It's a slow burn and well worth it.

The child actors are both great, MM is probably going to get some kind of award nomination, and the feel of the movie is just perfect.

As someone with relatives in Arkansas, they captured it well.

Reese Witherspoon was only in about 15 minutes of it, but she's an important character in several key scenes.
Old 05-11-13, 09:04 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

"Mud" is a solid "coming-of-age" tale featuring 2 teen boys, Ellis and Neckbone, living in Arkansas, come across Mud (Matthew McConaughey), who's on the run, and finding some shelter in a boat stuck in a tree. The boys end up trying to help Mud get the boat out of the tree, but Mud's past makes for ominous undertones from the people looking for him to exact some retribution.

Ellis is the focal point of the film, his own home life crumbling as his parents are splitting up, and their home-boat is on the way to being cut loose in the impending divorce. Ellis is somewhat of a romantic, not quite able to deal with new-found feelings for the opposite sex, and ends up imposing such feelings on Mud's story to garner the motivation to help him out, even though it proves dangerous for him and Neckbone.

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B.

Last edited by Patman; 05-11-13 at 09:17 PM.
Old 05-11-13, 09:24 PM
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Re: MUD (2012) (dir. Jeff Nichols) (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon)

It was a solid film but it certainly wasn't a modern classic.

It was good, don't get me wrong but I could see everything coming from a mile away.

The foreshadowing was a bit too on the nose.

The two younger actors did a very solid job. McConaughey did a good job but it wasn't an award worthy performance. I'm looking forward to 'Dallas Buyers Club' for that possibility.

Good movie and deserving of praise but it's not perfect by any means.

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