Mud | What to Watch

Matthew McConaughey delivers a charismatic turn as a tale-spinning fugitive outlaw

Matthew McConaughey delivers a charismatic turn as a tale-spinning fugitive outlaw.

He draws an idealistic teenager Tye Sheridan and his pal Jacob Loflan into his perilous quest to be reunited with his one true love (Resse Witherspoon) in this beguiling coming-of-age adventure set in the Mississippi Delta.

Writer-director Jeff Nichols takes his time unfolding his adventure - which involves bounty hunters, deadly snakes and a boat left in a tree by a flood - but he imbues his film with a terrific sense of place and lets his characters breathe.

Part hero, part charlatan, McConaughey's lean and grizzled fugitive makes a compelling protagonist, but Sheridan is equally impressive, and there's strong support from Witherspoon, Sarah Paulson, Sam Shepard and Michael Shannon.