beatlemania909

Right off the bat, 6 stars go to Matthew McConaughey and his absolutely stellar performance. Wow, where the hell did that come from? Matt, thems some fine ass chops on that plate (read that line and take it how you will). I was never a fan of his work, and I doubt anyone would think in a MILLION YEARS...........that he could pull off something like that. He was gritty, he was dirty, he was disgusting, HE WAS FANTASTIC. Ladies and gentlemen of the acting world, THAT is what acting is all about. He took an image he was type-casted in and flipped it on its head! He became Mud, and I don't think anyone can take that away from him. HOWEVER.....I will not claim this to be the best picture I have ever seen, but, it was pretty damn good. It really showed how much poverty there is in America, and how separated the rich and poor can really be. It was a statement on American culture and way of life. Very well done Mr. Nichols, and that goes just as much for cinematographer Adam Stone, Wow! Its like you drained a tea bag all over the celluloid and slapped it on the screen, REAL AND DIRTY. The writing, I wasn't too crazy for it, but the scenes between Ellis and his father were very realistic and at times painful. HOWEVER...... (again) Witherspoon and the two boys (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) didn't knock me off my feet too much. Sure they were good, but good is difficult to handle when you have an Oscar NOMINATED (patent pending) PERFORMANCE BY SAM SHEPARD. Every scene he was in was gold, while Ellis' father, played by Ray McKinnon, was heartbreaking and not overdone in the slightest.

It's nice to see a film this year that isn't big and isn't loud. It takes you to a dark place and tries to be real, without being a cardboard cut out. You believe the characters, you understand their problems, and you feel like Matthew McConaughey has earned an Oscar for eating beans. (When you watch that scene, you'll know.........you'll know)

I recently saw this film after years of hearing about it or seeing it on store shelves. Surprisingly, De Niro was not the reason I saw this film, but the relation it had to Paul McCartney's input with the song "(I want to) Come Home". It's not the best reason to watch a movie I know, but I'm not one for a hokey "learning about ourselves" premise. That being said, I was taken by how well written the film really was. I was expecting something tired and slow, but it turned out to be quite "SNAPPAY" in its dialogue. I also liked how its a story that shows why the "American Dream" can not only be daunting for parents and children, but also toxic for relationships. My biggest shock was the man of the hour himself, Robert "Double Oscar, second coming of Vito and professional volleyball filler" De Niro. I thought........he was kind of bland. (SHOCK AND AWE!! SNAPPAY!) I really respect you Bob, I think your an extremely talented and actually pretty funny actor, but this film felt a little off to me. It felt like he was being one of his gangster roles while speaking to a homeless man on a subway (Not the sandwich shop, no one gets mentioned till I get paid), but became as soft as he was in "Awakenings" while speaking to his grandson or a baby he is forced to look after. He was good, but not the best he has been. That goes for the film as well, along with its supporting cast. While Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore and Kate Beckinsale (and the rest!) dish out good performances, that's all you can really say about them, good. The film and actors are not AMAZING, but they leave you all warm, fuzzy, and feelin' fine.

The film isn't a masterpiece, but its not even close to bad. Its a movie that you can watch without thinking too hard, but don't turn your mind off completely, there may be something you can relate to.

BONUS DISC!!!!!!!: One last thing for all you freedom fighters out there. There is an interesting nugget in the special features with Paul McCartney and the making of the song "(I want to) Come Home". If you like Paul and his work, that will be worth at least a rent. While you have it though, watch the film, you may be pleasantly surprised.

I've always said that this film was the best of the old Batman films, and the darkest. It's my favourite and I would even have to choose it over the first one as being the best in quality. Everything was perfect, the cast, the love interest of Bruce Wayne and Catwoman, and the script, not a moment where I could say, "Aww that line could have been taken out or rewritten". Tim Burton was a great director of the first two films, and the way this and the first was presented, it became real and gritty (If you don't look at the part where Michelle Pfeiffer has nine lives). I just want to finish with the fact that Danny DeVito as the Penguin was so brilliant that its was the Hamlet of the Batman Performances. Go out and get this one as soon as you can, its not a kid's Batman, its the real deal.