Bill C’s Review – 4.5 out of 5
Below is the short review I wrote after seeing Mud at SXSW. It opens in Austin this week. Definitely go see it!
This films reminded me a little of Stand By Me. Two young teens are convinced to help an outlaw on the run. Matthew McConaughy is great as the outlaw. The two kids are great too. The film also has Sam Sheppard, Reese Witherspoon, Joe Don Baker in small roles. This is a good coming of age movie by Jeff Nichols, the up and coming director of 2011′s Take Shelter. Both Nichols and McConaughy were there for a Q+A after the film. Definitely see this when you can!
Bill I’s Review – 4 out of 5
The plot is not important, it’s the characters that captivate and their relationships. I can’t remember the last time I saw such realistic portrayals of teenagers, and the complicated relationships they have with the grown-ups in their life. The impact of a troubled marriage, with both parents struggling to raise their son the right way, was amazing to watch. Reese Witherspoon was almost unrecognizable, not due to her appearance, but due to her character. McConaughy is terrific, coming off his great showing in Magic Mike. But the real star is the main teenage boy.
I finally got to see this movie Friday which I had been wanting to see since I saw the trailer last year. I liked it very much and thought the acting was excellent, especially McConaughy. I was expecting something a little different, which goes to show how much you can form an opinion of a movie from the trailer. As the day wore on I started thinking more and more about it and realizing that I missed the most important meaning of the movie of the movie for me. Another good sign of how much I like a movie is if I wake up the next morning and am still thinking about it. And what kept coming to mind is that most of the time there are no happily ever afters in life no matter how much you want it or expect it.