A twisted love story set against the tapestry of rural Mississippi, Mud centers around a young boy, Ellis (Tye Sheridan, Tree of Life) who finds a man hidden out on an island. The man (played by Matthew McConaughey) identifies himself as Mud. We never hear Mud’s real name or any last name, but we do discover Mud is on the run, waiting for the love of his life, Juniper (played by Reese Witherspoon). Mud has a turbulent past, and with the arrival of his long-lost love comes inevitable trouble.
Despite McConaughey’s name (and pecs) being attached to the indie film and playing the title role, Sheridan takes on the heavier acting load, appearing in nearly every frame. Witherspoon, on the other hand, was in the film for a grand total of 12 minutes.
