I remember seeing the trailer for Mud and quickly dismissing it. Nothing about it really jumped out to me, more like a predictable story being told again. After it came out, I heard very good things about it which led me to believe that the trailer simply didn’t do the movie justice. So on the list it went and I’m happy to report that all the praise for Mud is well deserved.

Two young friends, Ellis and Neckbone (awesome name) are stomping around their home turf in Arkansas. Neckbone spots a stranded boat on a nearby island just down the river (Ellis lives right on the water, Neckbone not too far from there) so the boys go check it out. They find it curiously stuck up in a tree and while it’s a mess, they think they can fix it over the summer for themselves. That’s where they meet Mud, a fugitive on the run. They become friends and the kids agree to help Mud fix the boat so he can escape with his girlfriend, Juniper, from the bounty hunters who are closing in.

Mud is really Ellis’ story. He’s 14 and just starting to become a man. He’s starting to leave childhood, he’s got a crush on a girl and his parents are at a low point in their relationship. With everything changing around him, Ellis struggles to make sense of it all. He’s a very honest and sincere kid and when the ugly parts of the world start showing themselves, he’s thrown for a life altering loop.

Meeting a stranger on a little island is weird for anyone. Ellis and Neckbone are cautious around Mud, but he wins them over as they get information out of him. Mud happens to be a great story teller. His little life lesson speeches, his tales of love and loss. Then the big one on why he’s in hiding. Mud killed Juniper’s abusive partner and now that man’s family have put a bounty on his head in addition to the law coming for him. This is enough for Ellis to side with Mud, he thinks Mud is justified in his actions. He did it to protect someone he loves which is an honorable trait, something Ellis sees slipping away from the people around him seemingly every day.

Since this movie rides on two kids, casting them is of the utmost importance. They nailed it with Tye Sheridan (Ellis) and Jacob Lofland (Neckbone). Great young actors who look and sound like they’ve been in the game all their lives. No bad acting, each emotion hit just right. It goes a long way to make Mud as good as it is. Matthew McConaughey holds it down as Mud, a strong role model for the kids (a father figure really), but one who is deeply flawed as well. Mud has made a lot of poor decisions in his life and this is one that he may not be able to get out of.

The Mississippi river makes a great backdrop for this story, the dialog is smooth and smart and the growth you see from the main cast from start to finish is a real treat. Highly recommended.