Genre: Drama
Directed by: Dee Rees
Written by: Dee Rees & Virgil Williams
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blidge, Rob Morgan and Jonathan Banks
In Theaters: November 17, 2017 (limited)
On Streaming: November 17, 2017 - Netflix
Runtime: 134 minutes
When I started watching Mudbound, I was expecting a solid southern drama, but when credits rolled I was truly devastated inside. Not many movies make me cry, but Dee Ree's did it! It's not an independent drama: it is an independent cinematic giant that ressonates in your heart.
Dee Rees' Pariah used silence as part of its narrative and it was effective while it worked as a factor of "intimacy" at the same time. In Mudbound, silence is replaced by the actor's voices narrating their characters inner thoughts - and it feels intimate in a totally different way when compared to Pariah... but it works! Flashbacks and narration open the doors to characters' minds, but Mudbound goes far beyond "simple" character studies. Mudbound has a purpose, Mudbound has a story to be told, Mudbound has a message Rees wants us to be able to read!
The acting is superb! From Mulligan to Banks, every performance finds its purpose, every performances finds its own voice, but there's no way to deny three acting gems coming from Mary J. Blidge, Jason Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund. As Florence, Mary J. Blidge plays the midwife, the nanny, the strong wife, the brave mother: it's a subtle acting turn full of some sort of a inner strenght that illuminates every scene. Mitchell and Hedlund's performances are both dynamite ready to explode with Hedlund as a charismatic (and loud) bombing alert and Mitchell as a silent "tick tack", but they only explode near the very end - separated performances that combine into one, bringing us distinguished cinematic moments. A standing ovation to one specific scene: Florence holds an emotionally devastated Laura in her arms (it's a truly devastating scene for every audience... pure agony).
Just like Laura mentions in the movie "When I think of the farm, I think of mud", Mudbound is mostly colored in shades of brown and grey, but a great cinematography work elevates the dirty domestic environment and makes good use of sunset colors and games of shadows. Score makes you hold your breath during the most tense moments in a way you might get an heart attack, while "Mighty River" (song) evoques Dee Rees' message during the endind credits.
This way, I consider Mudbound the best movie of the year so far! It's not perfect, but it's remarkable as no other movie this year. A successful (epic) tale of racism, love, domestic drama, family sacrifice and responsability/duty. And let's not forget the amazing acting featured here! Dee Rees proves she's one of the most promising directors working today raising her voice beautifully here!
RATING: 5 / 5
Academy Award playing categories:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Dee Rees)
- Best Supporting Actor (Garrett Hedlund)
- Best Supporting Actor (Jason Mitchell)
- Best Supporting Actress (Mary J. Blidge)
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Best Editing
- Best Cinematography
- Best Original Song ("Mighty River")
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