Review of The Mudge Boy (2003) by Daniel P — 06 Apr 2008
A film quite unlike anything I've seen before, The Mudge Boy deserves a larger audience then it is ever likely to get, thanks to its peculiar title, cheap, 70s looking cover art and "funded by cable" credentials.
But it's a stunning film. Duncan (Emile Hirsch) is a teenager trying to come to terms with the unexpected death of his mother. An outsider who doesn't have the self-awareness to express himself adequately and without any support in friends or his emotionally unavailable father, Duncan, who helps out on the farm he lives on, cycles the countryside with his favorite chicken and begins to form relationships with some of the people he meets.
Psychologically rich and complex, realistic, beautifully photographed and stunningly performed (Emile Hirsch, Richard Jenkins and Tom Guiry are all superb), The Mudge Boy builds to a devastating conclusion that is truly shocking and difficult to watch; a brilliant depiction of teenage life, sexuality and grief in all its forms.
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, winner of the Grand Jury Award at L.A. Outfest.
This review of The Mudge Boy (2003) was written by Daniel P on 06 Apr 2008.
The Mudge Boy has generally received positive reviews.
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