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MUD (2013)Movie Reviews
Drama about two young boys who agree to help a fugitive hiding out on an island near their small Mississippi town reunite with his true love. Cast:Matthew McConaughey, Michael Shannon, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon, Joe Don Baker, Tye Sheridan, Paul Sparks, Dalton Gray, Jacob Lofland, Lauren Lee, Bonnie Sturdivant, Michael Abbott Jr, Stuart GreerDirector:Jeff NicholsRelease Date:April 26, 2013DVD Release: TBD From:LionsgateRating:PG-13Length:2 hr 10 min
Mud (2013) continues playing to excellent reviews. • Joe Morgenstern wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "...traffics unerringly in truth, surprise, unadorned beauty and unforced wisdom.... Mud is a marvelous figure, the product of flawless writing plus a brilliant performance..." More Reviews Below...
Mary Corliss, Time: OUTSTANDING "...a classic coming-of-age story... a clear-eyed essay on the power of romance.... Glorious vision of youth and truth, love and loss, your name is Mud."(See all of Mary Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 966 words, 04/26/13
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "Nichols has a sense of place that feels authentic. He never condescends.... if you allow yourself to settle into the movie's leisurely pace, it will reward you."(See all of Chris Nashawaty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 211 words, 04/26/13
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Jeff Nichols is something rare in film right now: an original voice, a writer and director whose work richly rewards careful attention.... Matthew McConaughey is magnificent."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 312 words, 04/12/13
Claudia Puig, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "...beautifully shot, deliberately paced.... Endearing and believable, the two actors playing Ellis and Neckbone are pitch-perfect."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 04/25/13
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: EXCELLENT(cg) "Both Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland are excellent.... As for McConaughey, he's superb here -- every moment right, investing Mud with confidence and concern..."(See all of James Rocchi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 800 words, 04/25/13
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a stirring coming-of-age tale... when growing up, is the belief in love more important than its actuality? The film doesn't resolve the issue, but it explores it in detail."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 802 words, 04/24/13
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media: EXCELLENT(cg) "...stays with you long after the credits roll.... a simultaneously unique and age-old story.... It's everything that's good about independent films.... Age 14."(See all of Sandie Angulo Chen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 784 words, 05/01/13
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...deft and absorbing.... leavened by suspense and jolts of laughter.... Mr. Nichols's voice is a distinctive and welcome presence in American film."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 700 words, 04/26/13
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "Nichols gets mired in mood.... He plays it vague, and the novelistic touches feel forced.... the movie needs something to stick to."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 393 words, 04/26/13
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most creatively rich and emotionally rewarding movies to come along this year.... Nichols is made in America, a storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 788 words, 04/26/13
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an expansive story of fathers and sons and a search for belonging... Nichols takes time and care to make everyone on screen worth watching."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 572 words, 04/26/13
John Anderson, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "There's a great deal of coincidence, and no small amount of appeal to one's inner adolescent... the raggedy nature contributes to its charm, which is considerable."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 299 words, 04/26/13
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: EXCELLENT "Its storytelling is fluid... what a pleasure it is to see Witherspoon (like McConaughey) liberated from the minstrel show that is the studio rom-com..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 835 words, 04/22/13
Jim Emerson, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the picture never comes unmoored from reality or drifts off into lazy abstraction and cliché. Nichols' eye for detail, his feel for the characters and landscapes, is so vivid..."(See all of Jim Emerson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 938 words, 04/26/13
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The mode here is boys' adventure.... At moments, the film is honest and involving, touched with life as it's actually lived. Too bad that it settles into melodrama."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 826 words, 04/24/13
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a modern fairy tale, steeped in the sleepy Mississippi lore of Twain and similar American writers, and with a heart as big as the river is wide."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 05/17/13
Adam Nayman, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...rich and earthy.... Even when it feels like it's drifting off to sea, the director finds a way to keep the movie - and its audience - exactly where he wants them."(See all of Adam Nayman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 696 words, 05/17/13
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...only really stumbles at its climax, when the director abandons texture and complexity for an action sequence that feels like a backslide to 'Shotgun Stories.' "(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 05/16/13
KEY CITIES (12 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...lyrical and sobering at the same time.... Southern culture may be on the skids here, but Nichols's sensitive portrayal is gratifyingly on the level."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 694 words, 04/26/13
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...finds Matthew McConaughey at the top of his game.... steeped in a sense of place, and the people inhabiting it. Southern. Superstitious. Suspenseful. Sublime."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 596 words, 04/26/13
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Though the film has a spirit all its own, comparisons to 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Huckleberry Finn' are inevitable.... a fine, resonant movie."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 04/26/13
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "The story is intriguing enough to make this a good movie. Led by Sheridan and McConaughey, the performances make it something more."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 651 words, 04/26/13
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...has a lot on its mind.... The most striking aspect of the movie is the air of myth and tall-tale telling that hovers lightly over the settings and characters."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 815 words, 04/26/13
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "Nichols' next film will likely be even better -- and so will the one after that. Because this isn't just a movie. It's the firm confirmation of a career."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 433 words, 04/26/13
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "An interesting slice of life from director Jeff Nichols... features fine performances and terrific river atmosphere, though the film runs a little long."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 49 words, 04/26/13
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...there aren't many American filmmakers who, like Nichols, can pull off the wistful symbolism of a boat riding a river toward freedom in a wide-open gulf."(See all of Tom Keogh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 507 words, 04/26/13
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a modern-day Tom and Huck story.... What starts off as a lyrical fable about the loss of innocence culminates in an all-too-conventional violent showdown."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 63 words, 01/24/13
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "McConaughey brings to the film a heartfelt and beautifully realized angst. And Witherspoon is excellent... a gritty tale of love and regret."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 299 words, 04/26/13
Adam Graham, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...unfolds at its own pace.... The performances are outstanding, especially from Tye Sheridan.... He gives the film its heart, and it beats beautifully."(See all of Adam Graham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 268 words, 04/26/13
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...has the depth and resonance of a novel (Mark Twain is an obvious influence here).... you come away from the film fondly remembering the two boys, especially Ellis..."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 395 words, 04/26/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (8 Reviews)
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The mode here is boys' adventure.... At moments, the film is honest and involving, touched with life as it's actually lived. Too bad that it settles into melodrama."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 826 words, 04/24/13
Kristy Puchko, Cinema Blend: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...intriguing, but at times perplexing.... Still, the performances are sensational.... the execution carries a heavy, cynical tone..."(See all of Kristy Puchko's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 807 words, 04/25/13
Jesse Hassenger, Pop Matters: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...it's heartening to see Witherspoon in a decent role again... Maybe she's ready to follow McConaughey back from the pits of would-be crowd-pleasing."(See all of Jesse Hassenger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 617 words, 04/26/13
Steve Macfarlane, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "...succeeds thanks to small details, from its deep-fried lingo and the swampy texture of its location photography to its uniformly expert cast."(See all of Steve Macfarlane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 792 words, 04/23/13
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...only really stumbles at its climax, when the director abandons texture and complexity for an action sequence that feels like a backslide to 'Shotgun Stories.' "(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 05/16/13
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Nichols shows an eye for telling detail, deliberate pace and careful narrative structure comparable to John Sayles, but also a tendency to belabor his points."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 543 words, 04/26/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...traffics unerringly in truth, surprise, unadorned beauty and unforced wisdom.... Mud is a marvelous figure, the product of flawless writing plus a brilliant performance..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,028 words, 04/26/13
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...deft and absorbing.... leavened by suspense and jolts of laughter.... Mr. Nichols's voice is a distinctive and welcome presence in American film."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 700 words, 04/26/13
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most creatively rich and emotionally rewarding movies to come along this year.... Nichols is made in America, a storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 788 words, 04/26/13
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Variety: EXCELLENT "...a pressure-cooker pastoral... explores a rich vein of grown-up concerns, exploring codes of honor, love and family too solid to be shaken by modernizing forces."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 782 words, 05/26/12
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...a well carpentered piece of work marked by some fine performances and resilient thematic fiber... the characters of the boys keep it real and alive..."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 05/26/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most creatively rich and emotionally rewarding movies to come along this year.... Nichols is made in America, a storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 788 words, 04/26/13
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: VERY GOOD(cg) "...sharply made... inventively combines a boys' adventure, mystery and elegiac portrait of a past remembered.... Jeff Nichols proves to be a superb visual storyteller."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 823 words, 04/22/13
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...deft and absorbing.... leavened by suspense and jolts of laughter.... Mr. Nichols's voice is a distinctive and welcome presence in American film."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 700 words, 04/26/13
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...traffics unerringly in truth, surprise, unadorned beauty and unforced wisdom.... Mud is a marvelous figure, the product of flawless writing plus a brilliant performance..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,028 words, 04/26/13
15.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Mud (2013)'s reviews are separated by an average 15.4 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Mud (2013) (43 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Mud (2013)'s reviews cover 82.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 24,286 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 565 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 5 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Mud (2013)'s reviews on average broke 5 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Mud (2013)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Mud (2013) (43 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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