Mud review

 Number 814 on the top 1000 films of all time is the 2012 coming-of-age drama 'Mud.'

Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) are two teenage boys living in rural Arkansas. Upon finding a seemingly abandoned boat, they then meet its owner Mud (Matthew Mcconaughey) a fugitive hiding there after killing a man. The two boys agree to help Mud escape, as well as reunite him with his lost love Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks and Ray Mckinnon all co-star.

This was an impressive film. It was probably one of the best depictions of a lost innocence that I have seen since Stand by Me. Ellis and Neckbone are instantly likeable. Sure, they are innocent and naive like many teenagers, but it's obvious that they are still good kids. Ellis is always ready to stand up for what's right even if that backfires on him.

I also think Mud avoided the pitfalls of many other coming-of-age dramas. Its protagonists aren't cocky little jerks like the Breakfast Club or annoying chipmunk-voiced pre-teens *cough cough* like the Goonies, but it also avoided the cliche of its teenage protagonists having neglectful parents. Ellis' father played by Ray Mckinnon and Neckbone's Uncle Galen (Michael Shannon) are by no means perfect, but they're not down-and-out and baddies either. This is what made them human.

The real baddie was Carver (Paul Sparks) the brother of the man that Mud killed. Sparks was great in a villainous role - in many ways, he was the opposite of the caring Mud.

Mud's characters, in many ways, heralded a transition for Mcconaughey - away from the romcoms he was best known for and into the more dramatic roles that he is best-known for now. It was in 2013 that he won his best-acting Oscar for the Dallas Buyers Club. He's just as good there as he is in Mud.

The cinematography was also spectacular. It conveyed the isolation and remoteness of the small world that our characters live in. In many ways, it is like its own eco-system where Ellis and Neckbone can enjoy their adolescences. Sheridan and Lofland were great in the lead roles displaying a maturity and a great chemistry with one another.

If I were to criticise the film for anything, it would be the inclusion of Reese Witherspoon. It seemed like the only direction she received was to stand around and look pretty. She's won an Oscar. She could have done something more than that. Otherwise, this was an excellent coming-of-age drama that I enjoyed immensely. 

Walk the Line review

 Number 414 on the top 1000 films of all time is the biographical drama 'Walk the Line.'

Focussing on the story of the country music star Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix,) 'Walk the Line' shows his life from his humble beginnings on an Arkansas cotton farm with his abusive father Ray (Robert Patrick) to his rise to stardom to the breakdown of his first marriage with Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin) and his relationship with his contemporary June Carter (Reese Witherspoon.)

Although I do like Johnny Cash songs, I'm certainly no expert on his life. And 'Walk the Line' offered an unflinching look into the Man in Black himself. Joaquin Phoenix helped bring this character into life. He stopped him from being just another country music star and turned into a vulnerable and damaged man. I say, just another country star, as the film also adapts a lot of Johnny Cash's contemporaries from Waylon Jennings to Elvis Presley to Jerry Lee Lewis and, of course, June Carter.

Up until now, June Carter has always just been a name to me. I knew that she was married to Johnny Cash, but little more than that. Reese Witherspoon was great in the role. She was charismatic and energetic as the country singer. But she also brought a quiet ferocity. This was a woman who wasn't going to roll over and let herself be dominated in a man's world. And, on many occasions, she rightly puts all the men in their place. 

Witherspoon won the Best Actress Oscar for the role and I think she put in a formidable performance. She was great by herself, but also great acting opposite Phoenix. The two actors had a great chemistry. Reportedly, the two got off to a rocky start but they soon became so close that they made a pact that if either one of them leaves the project, both of them would leave. I would argue that Phoenix and Witherspoon had better chemistry than Phoenix had with Goodwin. Although considering the two characters don't have the best relationship, perhaps this worked out for the best.

But a musical drama about real life musical stars is nothing without good singing performances. And Phoenix and Witherspoon don't disappoint. They did all their own singing and instrumentation without any dubbing. I've never really heard June Carter sing so I can't comment on Witherspoon too closely, but Phoenix got Cash down to his classic bass-baritone voice.

I did enjoy this film. Even if you're not a country music or a Johnny Cash fan, this is still a great watch with strong performances from both its leads.