I saw the movie Mud today and I can highly recommend it. I was impressed with the acting – a welcome surprise when it comes to Matthew McConaughey. I also thought the story was first-rate and illustrated a few elements that are important for all good story telling.
These elements include:
A rich setting. The screenwriter/director Jeff Nichols placed the story in his native state of Arkansas on the banks of the Mississippi River. There are many insider details that authentically show that part of the world. The power of the River Authority is one, the danger of cottonmouths, copperheads and other poisonous snakes is another, the details surrounding river fishing is a third. These provide a fertile background from which to launch the story and allow the moviegoer to learn something about life in this part of the world. Mark Twain does this very well in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. That may be one of the reasons that this film is being advertised as part Huck Finn, part Badlands.
Image as metaphor. The salient image in Mud is a boat that is stuck in the branches of a tree after having landed there from massive flooding a few years back. The boat is out-of-place, in ill repair, and suspended in time. It serves as an apt metaphor for the title character, Mud, who shares those same attributes. Once the boat comes down to earth, it foreshadows Mud’s own descent from lofty hopes to a more mundane reality. It also signals a return to a more useful function rather than being relegated to a wasted existence. Again, this reflects Mud’s own destiny.
The multi-layered theme of love gone wrong. This is illustrated in Mud’s relationship with his girlfriend, Juniper; Ellis’s relationship with his would-be girl friend, May Pearl; and Ellis’s parents’ pending separation. Each represents a male who wants a woman to love him and who is failing in that goal. Ironically, Mud ends up being the source of hope for Ellis even though Mud has failed more than anybody else at love. Mud is by far the most hopeful character in the film, which makes him the perfect person to serve as guide for Ellis when speaking of his chances of finding a trustworthy woman.
The use of a sidekick for comic relief. Neckbone – Ellis’s friend – is the truth teller in the film and his comments give this tension-filled story some needed laughs. He is plain-spoken and practical and doesn’t have the same need to believe in the importance of romantic love that Ellis has. His favorite words appear to be shit and titty, and he provides a good counterbalance to Ellis’s character, which is serious and heart-driven.
Mud is well-written, well-directed and well-acted. There are twists and turns that keep the audience engaged, and an ending that produces a nod of approval. If you get a chance, then pay the money to see this film. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will be highly entertained. I suspect Matthew McConaughey is still pinching himself that he landed a role so rich with possibility. He should feel proud of his efforts – he inhabits the character of Mud as if he knows exactly who, how and why this man is the way he is. Good for him!
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