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Created Aug 24, 2013 06:34PM PST • Edited Aug 24, 2013 06:35PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Mud has the feel of Tom Sawyer-like coming-of-age adventure mashed up with an adult drama and even a bit of a phychological thriller thrown in for good measure. McConaughey and the young Ray McKinnon make a great duo in this crafty tale which will engage you and keep you there until the very end. It is the ending that I fault the most for being a bit unfulfilling, but won’t sour you altogether. That said, Mud is hightly recommended. Immerse yourself in the south for a bit, get your gritty drifter and curious boy on and have a good time.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Matthew McConaughey is great as the ever so slightly unstable Mud. Isn’t he like that in real life? Never mind – he deserves big credit for his southern squirmy role.

   Despite a prominent role, Reese Witherspoon did not live up to her standard; Or maybe that was simply being outshined by McConaughey and Sheridan

   Ray McKinnon and Sam Shepard get big kudos as a flummoxed dad and gritty ex-Marine, and Jacob Lofland could be my 14 year-old buddy any day.

   But, despite all the big names and big experience around him, my vote for the acting superstar goes to Tye Sheridan – who literally holds this movie together and out-shines pretty much every one else. Bravo!

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Titillating 1.9

18. Violence Fierce 1.9

19. Rudeness Salty 1.9

21. Reality

    Glib 1.8

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Glib 1.8

24. Physical Glib 1.8