Two backwater Arkansan adolescents (Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland) journey down the river to retrieve a boat which had been planted on the treetops by a recent flood, and noticed on a previous visit. Scaling the tree and examining their new fine, they realize someone has taken quarters in their boat and quickly encounter Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive from justice, guilty of committing a crime of passion for his childhood sweetheart (Reese Witherspoon). Inspired by this tale of romance, they decide to help their new friend plot his escape, while dealing with their own family and personal heartache in their last summer of innocence. "Mud" is another demonstration of of the versatility of writer director Jeff Nichols who, following the tragic "Shotgun Stories" and allegorical "Take Shelter", returns with a coming-of-age story which is much more contemplative than its plot description supposes. The film boasts excellent photography, which alone makes the film worth seeing, and fine performances (McConaughey is a little hard to take seriously) especially from the well-cast Sheridan and Lofland.
