Certification. 15
Running Time. 2 hours 15 mins
Director. Dee Rees
Cast. Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Carey Mulligan.
Rating. 79%
"When I think of the farm, I think of mud. I dreamed in brown."
Director Dee Ree's weighty historical drama Mudbound takes its central motif from the heavy clay soil that resolutely clings to the characters' skin, hair and clothing. A ubiquitous weight that never seems to wash away despite the incessant rain. An enduring weight much like the metaphorical patina of the Deep South's discriminatory history - after all, these were the Cotton States, the States most dependent on slavery prior to the US Civil War.
Adapted from Hillary Jordan's 2009 novel, Mudbound tells the story of two families - one white, one black - in pre-war and post-war Mississippi. All of these emotions are filtered through the voices of the six principal characters - Henry (Jason Clarke), Laura (Carey Mulligan), Jamie (Garrett Hedlund), Hap (Rob Morgan), Florence (Mary J. Blige) and Ronsel (Jason Mitchell). These characters recant recollections in sedate, subdued voiceovers. A device that too often makes for lazy filmmaking, but on this occasion, whilst perhaps initially overdone, is a surprisingly effective storytelling device for seamlessly fluctuating perspectives.
After a slow start, this ensemble piece packs a punch and you will be rewarded for your patience as the two families' lives converge and collide.
In particular, once the hitherto undeveloped characters of Ronsel and Jamie return from World War II, the slow-burn intensifies. Narration gives way to emotionally charged exchanges between characters, especially between the two men now struggling to cope with all too familiar racial tensions and post-war life. Jamie reacts to the trauma of war by sinking into alcoholism, depression and self-destruction, while Ronsel is no longer content to walk away from a fight. The characters know the world is changing, but many are resisting it with all their might. The whole ensemble - but especially the matriarchs of both families, intimately portrayed by Mary J. Blige and Carey Mulligan deliver emotional, finely tuned performances in which eyes, faces and expressions relay their emotions more than dialogue.
The authenticity Dee Rees and her production team have created is mightily impressive, yet the storyline feels remarkably contemporary. Writer and director, Dee Rees became the first black woman to ever be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and cinematographer, Rachel Morrison became the first woman outright to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. At times, the cinematography borders on a work of art.
Never heavy-handed or pretentious, Mudbound serves as a harrowing microcosm of contemporary racial politics through historical exploration.
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