Now Playing

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Mud
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepherd, Michael Shannon, Tye Sheridan, and Jacob Lofland
Synopsis: So this is about the time of year that, among the loud and expensive films of summer, we start seeing the smaller festival films that critics have been raving about. "Mud" is one of those films. McConaughey delivers a strong performance in a smaller slice of life film. There are elements of the film that are appealing. It certainly has some of the same qualities of little indies like "Winter's Bone" that have earned Best Picture nods in recent years. The performance of Sheridan, who is really the focal point of the film, is also good. He might have a very bright future the same way Jennifer Lawrence really sprung to the forefront in "Winter's Bone." That being said, I don't think this is a great finished product. I was one of those that didn't really get into "Beasts of the Southern Wild," last year's indie offering about poor southerners trying to find their way in the world. I appreciated some of the performances in that film and what they were trying to do, but I thought it was a little dry and boring. The same is true of "Mud." It moves at a glacial pace, which is fine if it has a lot to say. I don't think this film did have a lot to say. Then it just sort of ended.... I had a lot of hope for "Mud" going in, and it has some strong elements, but it feels like a not quite finished product.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, July 12 — "Pacific Rim," "Grown Ups 2"
Wednesday, July 17 — "Turbo"
Friday, July 19 — "The Conjuring," "R.I.P.D.," "Red 2," "Girl Most Likely"
Friday, July 26 — "The Wolverine," "The To Do List"
Wednesday, July 31 — "Smurfs 2"