Categorizing the film Mud
proves a difficult task, as the line differentiating it as a coming of age
film from a love story is more blurred than the eyesight of an individual with
60/40 vision (and I’m not sure if those vision numbers are even possible). Therefore,
since it doesn’t neatly fall into either category, I have decided that it falls
into both, and possibly others.
The plot follows the intertwined and damaged lives of
inhabitants of Arkansas; a 14-year-old boy in particular, who still possesses the
enviable, glass-half-full optimism about love and life that exists within us
until life experience mercilessly beats it out of our core. His name is Ellis,
and he is played exceptionally well by silver screen newcomer Tye Sheridan. One
day while out exploring a little island with his foul-mouthed friend Neckbone
(I pray to God that is just a nickname, but we never actually find out and it
is Arkansas, after all), the two boys discover that the abandoned boat stuck up
in a tree that they hope to claim as their own is already inhabited by a
mysterious man named Mud. Played by Matthew McConaughey, Mud solicits the boys’
help by asking them to bring him food. In exchange, he makes a deal with them
that should they choose to help him, he will give them the coveted boat (I’m
still not sure of what is so exciting about a non-functioning boat in a tree).
The boys soon learn that Mud is on the run from the law and the plot quickly
becomes a race against time to get Mud and his sexy lady (played by Reese
Witherspoon), who just arrived in town to run away with him, away before he is
caught. Dr-AH-ma!
In all seriousness, the character development in the film is
quite powerful. Ellis’ mindset about love is all bunnies and unicorns at the
beginning- he is more of a romantic than Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge. To him, it makes sense to do ANYTHING for love- no
questions asked, and not to do so thrusts his mind into the ultimate state of
confusion. When his parents inform him of their impending divorce, it simply
doesn’t make sense- if people are in love, why would they ever get divorced?
This thought process applies to all kinds of love in Ellis’ life- friendships
just as much as romances. That’s why, as relationships begin to break and
dissolve around him, he feels so deeply betrayed.
I’m not convinced that Matthew McConaughey would have so
much muscle tone after living on a small island for an indeterminate period of
time eating nothing but a couple of cans of beans a day. But aside from that, I
was truly engrossed in this powerful film.
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