No. 48 Mud (2012) 53 of 100
This is another Jeff Nichols effort that features Michael Shannon, as all his features do. This one came after ‘Take Shelter’ but before ‘Midnight Special’ and features Shannon only in what could be seen as an extended cameo. It's an excellent film though and well worth the 130 minutes it asks of you. The film starts out a bit like ‘Stand By Me’ with two 14 year old Arkansas lads on a quest to find a boat rumoured to be stuck up a tree on a remote island. The boat, presumably left by a tornado, is quickly found and as a bonus contains a stash of nudey mags. The boys see some food and realise that the boat is occupied and beat a retreat. When they get back to their skiff they encounter a strange man named Mud, played by Matthew McConaughey, who asks that they bring him some food. He explains he’s waiting for someone and offers the boys the boat if they help him. One of the boys, Ellis, is keen to help but his friend Neckbone is more cynical and thinks Mud is just a bum. T...