Jeff Nichols wrote and directed the 2012-2013 film “Mud,” a southern gothic crime drama set in Arkansas along the Mississippi River. The story follows two boys who find Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive, hiding on an island and decide to help him avoid both the police and those seeking revenge as he tries to reunite with his girlfriend, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). The movie portrays Southern people and their values. People from elsewhere often label them “rednecks,” sometimes even “white trash,” but most are independent, hardworking, respectful, and have a strong moral compass, though not always practicing Christians. The film trusts the audience’s ability to understand what's happening without being explicitly told, which is similar to Nichols’ later film "Joe," although "Mud" isn't as bleak and feels like a stronger work overall. It shares similarities in tone with “Undertow” (2004) and “Snow Angels” (2007); if you enjoy those films, you’ll probably appreciate this one too. There are several interesting themes to consider: Ellis (Tye Sheridan) resembles Mud as a young man, prompting the question of whether he will repeat the mistakes that led to Mud's predicament. The film explores the potential for both good and bad in men and women, but particularly examines how some women can be harmful—a welcome contrast to Hollywood’s tendency to portray men negatively while idealizing women. It also touches on the concept of romantic love and how it can cloud judgment; just because you're deeply in love with someone doesn't mean that person is good for you or that a relationship is worthwhile. I’ve never been particularly fond of Reese Witherspoon, but I didn’t find her performance off-putting either. She does well as the seemingly harmless yet damaging romantic interest. Bonnie Sturdivant also shines as her teenage counterpart, May Pearl; I wish her character had been developed further. The film has a running time of 2 hours and 10 minutes and was filmed in Arkansas locations including Crocketts Bluff, Eudora, Dumas, and Stuttgart. The cast includes Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks, and Joe Don Baker. I’d give it a grade of B/B+.

Source on TMDB