Mud

Mud, is an intriguing title for a movie and an even more interesting name for the main character played by Matthew McConaughey. Set along the banks of the Mississippi River, Mud is discovered living on a deserted island by two adolescent boys. The movie is billed as a "coming-of-age" story, which is true, but also I believe it goes much deeper than just showing the experiences of two boys growing up – it is a story about the importance of love in our lives. Ellis is one of the boys, his parents are getting a divorce and he can't understand why they don't love each other anymore. He meets Mud who is hopelessly in love with Juniper, played by Reese Witherspoon. From Mud, he learns about the power of love, the mystery of it and is in awe of the loyalty that Mud has for his one true love. Ellis has his own experience with first love. He learns that love is difficult, not always linear or predictable, but in the end he learns that love is wonderful and the most important thing of all. A very nice story that grabbed my attention from the very beginning, even though it was slow in pace and lacking BIG events through most of the movie. Generally well written, but there were a few times during this film when I thought, "how did they get there or how did that happen?" The dialogue was good, however the boys often seem to be saying things meant to help the story along, not necessarily what the characters would really say. The visual aspects of life along the Mississippi River were captured exquisitely, and I assume accurately. I was very interested in seeing more about that part of the country, and way of life. If you're interested in good storytelling, this movie is worth renting!