Mud is a Powerful Journey of the Human Spirit, and its Connection with Love. Watch out for Jeff Nichols, Tye Sheridan, and the Best Matthew McConaughey Performance

Mud (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed and Written by Jeff Nichols (Shotgun Stories,Take Shelter)

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon, and Matthew McConaughey 

Have you seen a film from Jeff Nichols yet?  The answer to that question is most likely, no, but his three films (including Mud) should be on your must watch list.  I first discovered Nichols with his 2011 film Take Shelter.  Nichols has a unique Americana style to his directing, which highlight both the beauty in nature and the complexity in life.  

While the film is entitled Mud, it centers a young boy named Ellis (Sheridan) who is dealing with the disintegration of his family, and his own journey into adulthood.  The beginning of the film shows Ellis' parents arguing in the background.  Soon after this moment Ellis escapes to be with his friend Neckbone (Lofland) and the two escape on a boat where they encounter a mysterious man named, Mud (McConaughey).

Ellis, and subsequently Neckbone are drawn into Mud's world, as Mud explains to them his idyllic, and romantic quest for the love of his life, Juniper (Witherspoon).  Ellis admires this quest; he is watching his parent's marriage dissolve, but also gets to help save a relationship by journeying day in and day out to help Mud complete his work on a boat to whisk Juniper away.

Ellis's exploration and journey is of course based more in the mindset of his childhood ideals, rather than the complexity of the adult world.  Nichol's script does a great job using Ellis, and his view point to help bring you back to the days when things had that simple answer.  Ellis poses the simple question "Do you love her?"  Mud's answer is a simple yes, but there is more to this, and more to the story of these two people.  The concept of love is the main theme throughout the film, the way it courses like the beautiful Mississippi within this Arkansas world.  Love does not mean you can walk up and punch someone in the face every time, or shoot someone, because it's not that simple, and script does a fantastic job of creating a parallel between Ellis and Mud.

As you watch Sherdian, who was also fantastic in The Tree of Life, you get caught in the wistful naivete of youthful exploration.  Ellis encounters his exploration through many characters from his father (Ray McKinnon), his mother (Sarah Paulson), Neckbone's uncle (Michael Shannon), his own "first love" Mae Pearl, and Juniper (Witherspoon) Yet the person with whom Ellis yearns to hear from most is Mud.  Ellis drags Nickbone along for an adventure with Mud, because he feels as though they are on this chivalrous quest, battling the dragon, and fighting to keep love alive.  Sheridan has an excellent range, and pulls of  the growth we see in his character as he learns things can't be tied up in a neat bow, and there is more to love than just "Do you love her?"

McConaughey's Mud appears to not have learned the same lesson, his romantic nature and idyllic view of Juniper is something he does not even understand until it gets to that final breaking point.  In a sense he has has already passed the final point.  This is the best role of McConaughey's career (so far) and while he was great in Magic Mike, this is one of the rare times where he has stepped outside of playing himself, and his heartfelt Huck Finn like journey with these young boys packs an emotional punch.

Nichols is a master of of the detail, his direction is some of the best and most heartfelt I have seen in the 2000s; he truly believes in the power of not only the great cast, but the visual.  Nichols has worked with cinematographer Adam Stone on all his films. Stones's shots are some of the most beautiful, you feel as though you engulfed in the mighty Mississippi, and that every piece of nature from the wood in campfire to the sweat on their foreheads highlights the power of nature, and the human endurance.  Stone knows how to frame scenes in a way that feel personal, like the opening where Ellis is in the foreground, and his parents are fighting behind him.  Together Nichols and Stone have put together some of the most incredible images on film.

Nichols, does a fantastic job of weaving a story about childhood innocence along with telling the story of what happens when innocence has been lost, and the adult world takes over.  Even with a slower pacing the end builds to a fevered rush; he knows how to make your heart beat fast, and melt with that parting shot.  While the ending is ever slightly too predictable/happy, the film lets you feel as though the closure needed exists, and Ellis has grown through his experiences, and exploration of understanding the complexity of love.

Romantic Comedies, and the 2000s, and the Queen is Streep!

Today while at home I watched one of my favorite romantic comedies, You've Got Mail.  The film reminded me about the charm and grace Meg Ryan had within these movies; she was truly a star, and could make you fall in love with her different characters over and over again.  Like with every actress the days of their time within romantic comedies end, and they have to pass the crown on to someone else.  Prior to the 2000s (the late eighties and nineties) three women's names dominated the world of romantic comedies, Bullock, Roberts, and Ryan.  As the 2000s began new leading ladies tried to add themselves to this elite list, and while many tried few came close to the glory.

Reese Witherspoon holds the title as being one of the most successful women of the decade.  Reese started the decade strong with the hit Legally Blonde (2001); she followed up this film one year later with another big hit Sweet Home Alabama (2002) where she had to choose between Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas (talk about a Sophie's Choice).  After her Oscar win in 2005 Witherspoon stepped away from these roles trying to prove her dramatic chops even further, but her career has not been as strong; she has not been in many successful films.

A few other woman have vied for this crown throughout this decade:

Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers, Life as we Know it, New Year's Ever, and One for the Money).  Heigl's first two films on the list were hits, but she has been known to be a bit of a diva, and the rest of these romantic comedies fell flat for her career.

Kate Hudson started her ascension to this title in 2003 with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and the film was major hit, which had her move toward more films like this and less like Almost Famous, unfortunately.  After this Hudson starred in a series of attrocious romantic comedies including: Alex & Emma, Raising Helen, You Me & Dupree, Fool's Gold, My Best Friend's Girl, Bride Wars, and Something Borrowed.  Kate tried to capture lightening in a bottle, but the bottle cracked.

Drew Barrymore tried this during the 2000s as well, after a few successes in the 90s with The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, she had a real shot with her charm, but not much ever took.  Barrymore tried with Duplex, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, and Music and Lyrics.  The truth is the girl has talent, see Grey Gardens, but she is not the romantic comedy gal anymore.

These are just four ladies who tried to be the next Meg Ryan/Julia Roberts/Sandra Bullock.  Three of the most successful Queens of the world of romantic comedies.  These three woman picked the right movies (most of the time) and were able to make the chemistry work. While the four women above tried to dethrone them, the only real woman who could be added to this list for the 2000s is the Queen of Film, Ms. Meryl Streep.

Meryl has proven two things, age does not matter, and she can really take on any role Throughout the 2000s and 2010s she has starred in some of the best romantic comedies of the decade: Mamma Mia!, The Devil Wears Prada (although more about Hathaway), Julie & Julia, It's Complicated, and Hope Springs.  The difference between Meryl and the women listed above is that she knows how to pick a movie, and her performance can always turn a bad movie into a good; she has the advantage.

Romantic comedies have become too formulaic, and Streep has changed things up for the decade because as an older woman she is reviving the genre, and proving you are never too old for love!