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

[riotinmyskull]

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.

[KillerCannibal]

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.

[GoldenJCJ]

Sounds interesting. Sounds like something David Gordon Green would have directed had he not gone the stoner comedy route in his career.

[Shannon Nutt]

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!

[riotinmyskull]

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

[Tarantino]

Witherspoon...yuck. Everyone else...okay.

[riotinmyskull]

couple images have popped up:

[Tarantino]

[riotinmyskull]

looks like a jeff nichols movie

[PopcornTreeCt]

Is this the one where McConaughey lost all his weight for?

[Sondheim]

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

[riotinmyskull]

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

[Sondheim]

Originally Posted by riotinmyskull

o_O

Oops.

Well Shotgun Shelters probably would be an interesting movie if Nichols were to make it.

[Throwing Copper]

I think it looks good.

When does this movie get released?

[TheySentYou]

They're scheduled for an April limited release... but it's premiering in the US this weekend at Sundance. i'm so thrilled!

[GatorDeb]

Saw it today. Excellent film.

[Throwing Copper]

Originally Posted by GatorDeb

Saw it today. Excellent film.

How was Reese Witherspoon in the film?

[GatorDeb]

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

[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 - 5/5
3. take shelter - 4.5/5

can't wait to see what he does next.

[TheySentYou]

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.

[Throwing Copper]

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)

[Brent L]

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.

[Throwing Copper]

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.

[Patman]

"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.

[foofighters7]

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.