The Last Picture Show review

 Number 236 on the top 1000 films of all time is Peter Bogdanvoich's 1971 coming-of-age drama: 'The Last Picture Show.'

Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges) are two high-school seniors in the sleepy Texan oil-town of Anarene where nothing ever happens. They try to find some meaning in this meaningless place. The film is set in the 50's and co-stars Ellen Burstyn and Ben Johnson.

Christ, it was boring writing that summary. But it's difficult to make such a boring film sound interesting. The Last Picture Show takes place in a stagnant town that is slowly dying both culturally and financially. I would argue the film itself was dying a slow death, if it was even alive in the first place. And that's debatable.

When I think of Coming-of-Age dramas, I think of the adventure you find in Mud or the sheer loss of innocence of Stand By Me. Hell, I hated the Goonies, but at least that tried, and failed, to be fun. Yet there was nothing fun, memorable or adventurous in this dull film.

It reminded me of La Dolce Vita or even George Lucas' American Graffiti where a group of bored kids are running around getting into trouble, as they have little else to do. Duane, Sonny and the rest of their friends take their mentally slow friend to lose his virginity with a sex worker. Duane's girlfriend Jacy attends a skinny-dipping party where she strips naked and has to be reassured by the host that his little brother isn't a sex pest. it was all just weird. And it wasn't enjoyable either.

There is some considerable acting talent in this film. It starred future Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and future Triple Crown of Acting winner Ellen Burstyn, yet there isn't a memorable performance to speak of. All the characters, both male and female, blended into one.

Perhaps the only good thing I can say is about the film's black and white colour processing. Monochrome in film can look aesthetically pleasing even if it fails to add much.

This was such a boring film that I would we start getting tumbleweed rolling past at one point. I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep writing this review.

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.