MUD

A perfectly wonderful movie. All 4 of us (ron and julie and me and bill) rated it a 10.

Its the story of two 14 year old boys in Arkansas near the Mississippi River who are friends and fellow adventurers. Their explorations lead to the discovery of a boat in a tree; washed and marooned there during a recent flood. Ellis is a dreamer and romantic little kid who trusts others implicitly and who always sees the best in people. His friend, Neckbone, is a very practical and pragmatic and plainspoken realist who tempers Ellis's fantasies and flights of fancy. However, they both agree on one thing - they want to get that boat down.

The boys discover that someone is living in the area and wants to also get the boat down from the trees. This is Mud, played by Matthew mcConaughey (he is absolutely awesome and is an actor who is continually expanding the types of roles he can successfully play). Mud is a drifter and is currently in the area because - he tells the boys - after he gets the boat down he'll go into town and get his girlfriend  who is waiting for him and they will leave Arkansas and begin a life of their own.

As the kids help Mud get the boat down and communicate with him more, a lot of other details come to life; about his girlfriend and their relationship, about Mud's past, about other people who might want to find Mud before he leaves the area. and also about the homelife of Ellis and Neckbone.  And all these facts slowly and inexorably come together in a psychological and physical confrontation which culminates in a perfect ending.

The entire movie  is firmly and superbly anchored by the acting of McConaughey and his friendship with the boys and the sterling acting of Ellis and Neckbone who captured exquisitely all the nuances of being 14 and friendship at that age in life. well, at least when you're a boy. I had to rely on Bill and Ron for that.