Mud

Name: Mud
Genre: Drama
Released: April 26, 2013
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Shannon, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 354 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 354 Ratings

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Mud

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: April 26, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Jacob Lofland, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Shannon, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Tye Sheridan

Summary: Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.

Director: Jeff Nichols

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 130 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mike Scott

Apr 26, 2013

Watching Mud unfold, one suspects that the Arkansas-reared Nichols remembers exactly what it was like to be a boy of the Southern wilds. Read full review

100

Film.com William Goss

Feb 26, 2013

That Nichols is able to orchestrate this entire journey with steady tension and lyrical imagery is a testament to his storytelling capabilities. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Apr 25, 2013

Mud runs over two hours, climaxing with a shootout that belongs in a different movie. It’s a rare misstep in an art-house movie that will pull mainstream audiences along as inexorably as the Mississippi River. Go see it. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Apr 24, 2013

Reese Witherspoon's unglamorous, understated supporting work recalls the kinds of films she made before becoming a movie star. Other recognizable faces include Sam Shepard, Joe Don Baker, Michael Shannon, and Sarah Paulson. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Apr 25, 2013

Endearing and believable, the two actors playing Ellis and Neckbone are pitch-perfect. Read full review

Feb 26, 2013

Jeff Nichols’ much-anticipated follow-up to his breakthrough second feature Take Shelter feels less adventurous and unsettling but remains a well carpentered piece of work marked by some fine performances and resilient thematic fiber. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Apr 25, 2013

Stripped of his former pretty-boy image, the Texas-born actor is snarly and gnarled, and understands what Nichols is aiming for. That’s crucial, as Mud needs something to stick to. Read full review

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User Reviews

OneSamTwoCups

Jul 26, 2013

Mud is a gripping film from start to finish, marking itself as a modern classic, reminiscent of Stand By Me. McConaughhey delivers his best performance yet as Mud, the man camping out on an island that two boys discover when exploring. Tye Sheridan (Ellis) makes his breakout performance asMud is a gripping film from start to finish, marking itself as a modern classic, reminiscent of Stand By Me. McConaughhey delivers his best performance yet as Mud, the man camping out on an island that two boys discover when exploring. Tye Sheridan (Ellis) makes his breakout performance as one of the boys. His friend, Neckbone (played by Jacob Lofland), is excellent as well. Mud captures every emotion with pure accuracy, strategically placing seeds for the audience to feed off of. I could tell you more about Mud, but this is a film you need to experience yourself.… Expand

7 of 10 users found this helpful73

Trev29

Aug 23, 2013

Mud marks the first great movie of 2013. The acting is fantastic and especially hats off to the young boys whose performances are so spot on. Beautiful imagery of a part of the south rarely showcased in films. A great story all around.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

atrichornis

Aug 16, 2013

Understated and beautiful, this film brings you gently into the character's world, and then grips you. The writer/director Jeff Nichols gave the cast plenty to work with, and they didn't let him down. Compelling and honest throughout, this is my favourite film of the year so far.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

DCEdmonds

Nov 13, 2014

"Mud" 10 Scale Rating: 8.0 (Great) ...

The Good: The cast is good all around, but McConaughey puts in his best performance. You can tell that he really put a lot into the character and hopefully he is up for award consideration. It's a gritty and mostly dark film, yet still retains some"Mud" 10 Scale Rating: 8.0 (Great) ...

The Good: The cast is good all around, but McConaughey puts in his best performance. You can tell that he really put a lot into the character and hopefully he is up for award consideration. It's a gritty and mostly dark film, yet still retains some semblance of childhood innocence.

The Bad: Slows down quite a bit in the middle. Once the setup is in place, it seems to take awhile to get to the climax.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Lansdenrs

Aug 10, 2013

Mud has great acting, great writing, a great story, and a powerful message. I can see this movie being up for a couple academy awards. It doesn't have much action, but when it the action happens it hits you hard. Awesome Flick!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

oblique15

Dec 28, 2013

It was a bit slow, but it`s a movie with characters you learn to care about.I thought it was a good movie overall. I did not expect it to be about love as much as it was, but it was interesting

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Broyax

Mar 24, 2018

Dans ce "Mud", Matthew le bellâtre quelque peu écorné joue un crevard qui mène en bateau deux ados naïfs, dont l'un très impulsif raisonne avec les poings plus qu'à son tour : il m'a l'air bien mal élevé ce gamin ! En tout cas, sur les bords du Mississipi magnifiquement filmé ici, se dérouleDans ce "Mud", Matthew le bellâtre quelque peu écorné joue un crevard qui mène en bateau deux ados naïfs, dont l'un très impulsif raisonne avec les poings plus qu'à son tour : il m'a l'air bien mal élevé ce gamin ! En tout cas, sur les bords du Mississipi magnifiquement filmé ici, se déroule l'une des histoires les plus invraisemblables qui puisse être racontée, très mollement racontée.

On mettra ça sur le compte de la poésie que le réalisateur a voulu insufler à son baratin sur la naïveté de l'adolescence et le dépit amoureux en général mais tout de même, que c'est lent, apathique et chiant ! en dehors de sa langueur contagieuse et soporifique, l'histoire échoue à impliquer le spectateur qui n'éprouve aucune empathie particulière ni pour ce type à la morale à deux vitesses, ni pour les ados plus souvent idiots que crédibles dans leur comportement.

"Mud" rajoute en effet du côté des gamins une bonne dose de drame social à son histoire à dormir debout, ce qui ne fait qu'alourdir ce qui était déjà passablement lourdingue. Le coup du bateau perché n'est que la plus grosse invraisemblance parmi d'autres, à croire que nous ne sommes que les canards sauvages du Mississipi pour gober un tel tissu de conneries...

La fin n'assure pas non plus et se veut bêtement consensuelle et familiale : elle nous prend de facto pour des ravis de la crèche. Si les **** gars font ce qu'ils peuvent, Matthew Mcmachin reste désespérément peu convaincant, pour ne pas dire carrément mauvais ; quant à la blondasse plus très fraîche au nom de cuiller, elle fait carrément de la peine.

La réalisation est appliquée (bien qu'avachie) et la photo est belle mais franchement, que c'est bateau ce truc lénifiant qui nous passe par dessus la tête !… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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89	#89 Best Movie of 2013
84	#84 Most Discussed Movie of 2013
78	#78 Most Shared Movie of 2013