130 minutes | PG-13 | 2012

A beautiful spectacle, “Mud,” written and directed by Jeff Nichols, follows two boys, Ellis (Tye Sheridan), and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) through their adventures in a small river town in Arkansas.  Ellis’ parents (Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson) are splitting up, so at dawn, the boys escape to explore a small wooded island in the Mississippi. They come across a mysterious man who calls himself Mud (Matthew McConaughey) who tells them of murder, his unfaithful partner Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), and bounty hunters who are hot on his trail.  Ellis wants to believe that true love will always win and agrees to become Mud’s accomplice. Even though “Mud” is based in the twenty-first century, one cannot help but be reminded of the nineteenth century Mark Twain novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” “Mud” uses beautiful sets and shows the true characteristics of young boys and their need for adventure, freedom, and a purpose.  It brings our emotions high and leaves them there.  Sheridan delivers a breakout performance while McConaughey gives an unusual, yet strong, presentation. “Mud” surely will not disappoint.