Mud
Best friends Ellis and Neckbone (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) are two teenage river boys growing up in Arkansas. Out for an adventure the two come across an abandoned boat they claim as their own; that is until the two discover the boat is already occupied by a strange and superstitious man named Mud (Matthew McConaughey). As it is, Mud is a wanted man by the law and lawless bounty hunters, but it’s his true love for Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) that keeps him going. Drafted into service Ellis and Neckbone team up with Mud to find Juniper, but the heat is on and re-uniting the couple will come at a cost. What’s the price of love?
Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, a rich screenplay dealing with the complexities of love as viewed by young and old and the helpless romantic dovetails to a fine grain. Almost elemental of Jack London or Stephen Crane, Nichols captures a part of American Culture in his own unique way, telling a story of fathers and sons and again the constant desire we all have to love each other. Acting from the ensemble hums with resonance and feels genuine through and through. Totally worth your attention. Mud is rated PG-13.