Review of Mud (2013) by Monique Y — 11 May 2014

Although this is a present-based story of two teens helping a fugitive to accomplish his rather absurd escape plan, memories of Tom Sawyer and his mystic Mississippi river kept coming to my mind while watching this movie. The sights were breathtaking! The lousy shacks and lots full of junk of this delta town in Arkansas remind me of Almirante, a scary and ugly village that one must cross to access the most exquisite sea views in my country. In small places like these, kids quickly learn to be on their own and create their own adventures. They grow up like weeds, like a force of nature, fully connected with their environment and willing to explore their surroundings. These kids exude inner bravery and resourcefulness. I could not imagine kids from bigger cities without any kind of supervision, alone on a boat or riding a motorcycle while parents are clueless of their whereabouts.

The film was a bit longer than needed be but, the performances of Matthew McConaughey and these two novel actors, Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland, was extremely commendable in keeping it fresh. I can see why it has been labeled as a coming-of-age but, in my opinion and regardless of the age factor, it had more to do with the struggles we all must deal with when having to choose between fantasy and reality, trust and distrust, hope and despair, loyalty and betrayal, disappointment and redemption, holding onto a feeling and letting go.