Matthew McConaughey stars in director Jeff Nichols’ film about two Mississippi boys who become friends with a sympathetic* fugitive*.

    Ellis (Tye Sheridan) has good reason to believe that his parents (Sarah Paulson, Ray McKinnon) are headed for a divorce*, while his best pal Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) is being raised by his oyster-diving uncle Galen (Michael Shannon).

    Ellis, 14, lives in an old houseboat while the nearby Arkansas town is a wasteland* of large chain stores and housing developments. On a deserted island out in the Mississippi, the boys meet the unkempt* Mud (Matthew McConaughey), who’s hiding out in an old boat stuck up in a tree.

    Even though Mud soon admits that he’s killed a man in a quarrel, the boys are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt*. Mud promises that they can have the boat once he’s done, and the boys start bringing him food.

    Nichols admits* the influence of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” on his story, in addition to* those of other Southern writers.

    The title character is a flawed* man who admits the error of his ways and hopes for a second chance in the face of those who want to take him down*.

    Mud’s getaway plans require the boys to steal an outboard motor* for him but he also asks Ellis to contact his ladylove Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), who’s hiding in town waiting for the green light to join Mud. Also around is a team of bounty hunters* led by a bad guy (Joe Don Baker), whose son Mud killed.

    The film was in competition at Cannes Film Festival last year. Although it did not win an award, the film had good word of mouth.

    (SD-Agencies)