Mud - No Way Out - DVD

Content: The two friends Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) take every opportunity to escape their dreary everyday life. When they hear that a storm has tossed an old boat into the treetops on a small island in the Mississippi, it sounds like quite an adventure to the boys. They actually find the boat, but discover that someone has already made themselves at home here: Mud (Matthew McConaughey), who's wanted for murder, is hiding out here from the police and the bounty hunters who are supposed to be draining the life out of him. When Mud explains to the boys that he committed the murder to protect the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), Ellis and Nackbone decide to help the stranger. Together, they plan to make the boat drivable again and make sure Mud can escape to a safe place with Juniper. But the boys have no idea how dangerous this pact could become for them and their families...

Mud - No Way Out is an accomplished blend of Southern drama, thriller and coming-of-age story. As with his previous film Take Shelter, director Jeff Nichols again shows an extremely good knack for atmospheric and extremely engaging imagery. This is embedded in a very quiet, yet engaging narrative flow that takes its time to build up the individual storylines and develop the characters. It's only towards the end that the pace picks up and there's also something like real action. But overall, Mud is a very quiet film that is convincing on all its levels.

At its heart is the story of Ellis, who believes in the really great love and therefore takes all the dangers to help Mud. The man's story also helps him get closer to his first great love himself. This culminates in a scene that is absolutely heartbreaking in its realism. For Ellis, as well as Neckbone, the events mark the end of their childhood innocence. Memories of Stand by Me come to mind in this aspect. And the comparison to Huckelberry Finn drawn by the New York Post can't be dismissed either.

In addition, the film also tells the moving story of a crime of love, with the question always being how much truth there is in what Mud tells the boys. Matthew McConaughey, who proved himself a regular chameleon last year with his role in Dallas Buyers Club and his brief but striking performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, once again delivers an extremely forceful and convincing performance. His young co-stars impress with great naturalness, which allows them to hold their own against seasoned supporting actors such as Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, Michael Shannon and Sam Shepard.

Mud - No Way Out is a film that is extremely moving in its quietness, with an emotional level that feels extremely authentic, as it avoids any form of kitsch or overused clichés. It is a poignant story about friendship, about love and about growing up, told in a truly beautiful film. It may be that its sustained pace is not for broad mass tastes. But if you appreciate sophisticated American cinema and already liked Take Shelter, you definitely shouldn't miss Jeff Nichols' new film. Once again a home cinema premiere that really should have been on the big screen. Absolutely worth seeing!

Image + Sound: The film's engaging imagery comes across very well on the DVD thanks to the good implementation of earthy hues, high detail sharpness and harmonious contrasts. The sound is very restrained for long stretches and is primarily dominated by the dialogue, quiet ambient noises and music. Every now and then, the surround channels make themselves more noticeable. Overall, a very coherent and atmospheric implementation of image and sound. Good!

Extras: The DVD has, in addition to TV spots and the trailer, an interview with Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon (approx. 5:34 min.), as well as a decent Making of (approx. 16:06 min.) in the offer. The Blu-ray also has exclusive interviews and B-roll footage.

Conclusion: Mud - No Way Out is a gripping drama and a very involving coming-of-age story that director Jeff Nichols has realized with great actors and an engaging visual language. The rather worn narrative flow does not necessarily correspond to the viewing habits of the masses. But if you can get into it, you'll be rewarded with a real gem that actually deserved to be seen on the big screen. For lovers of sophisticated American cinema, this Southern drama is an absolute must-see!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp