Mud & This Means War
In 2012, Mud & This Means War were released, both with Reese Witherspoon in them. Mud, a drama involving 2 boys helping a stranger in Arkansas starred Matthew McConaughey, and This Means War, a rom-com with action pieces, was about 2 spies fighting over the same girl starring Chris Pine and Tom Hardy. Both films had Reese at the centre of the motivation for the leads, all 3 claimed to be in love with her. Previously, Reese was in Water for Elephants (2011 drama romance in the 1930’s with Robert Pattinson) and How Do You Know (2010 rom-com involving baseball players with Paul Rudd), and she followed up with Devil’s Knot (2013 crime drama about a satanic ritual with Colin Firth) and Wild (2014 adventure drama about a 1,100 mile hike which earned her and co-star Laura Dern Oscar nominations for Best Lead and Supporting Actresses respectively).
Mud
2012, PG, 2h 10m
Distributor – Roadside Attractions
Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $10 / $32
Mud begins following 2 boys adventure in a coming of age tale including McConaughey’s character as a stranger they meet and begin to get to know. Filmed entirely in Arkansas at the request of writer/director Jeff Nichols, (the state is not known for filmmaking and was the largest production there to date), Mud balances between giving you info about the characters and moving the plot along. It is well paced at over 2 hours, never rushes along taking any shortcuts, and allows the viewer to get to know the 2 boys and their circle of friends, family, and new acquaintances. The script was appreciated by McConaughey and co-star Sam Shepard (among others), the film received good reviews at film festivals including being nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and includes themes of love, growing up, and a touch of danger. Jeff Nichols previously wrote and directed Shotgun Stories (2007 drama) and Take Shelter (2011), and would next make Midnight Special (2016 sci-fi) and Loving (2016 romance), all 5 films also star Michael Shannon. Matthew McConaughey was previously in The Paperboy (2012 thriller with Nicole Kidman), two episodes of Eastbound & Down (2012 comedy with Danny McBride), and was next in Magic Mike (2012 comedy with Channing Tatum) and Dallas Buyers Club (2013 drama with Jennifer Garner). Also appearing in the film is Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Sarah Paulson, and Joe Don Baker. The DVD includes a 16 minute documentary on the making of the film.
This Means War
2012, PG, 1h 43m
Distributor – Fox
Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $65 / $156
This Means War kicks off with an action sequence set to a rocking soundtrack, an opening title sequence not unlike a James Bond film, and then settles into rom-com territory with 2 CIA agents battling over a girl. Filmed in British Columbia, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, the film tries to balance spy action with rom-com cliches, and pits the two male leads in a brotherly, US/UK, charmer/sweetheart, battle of one-upmanship. Soon after the film begins, the quick pacing soundtrack turns into a chore as it becomes irrelevant, also forced, such as repeating a few notes of Beastie Boy’s “Sabotage”, just to get a quick bump. It shines as the two go head to head, including sabotaging each other, and Chelsea Handler steals every scene she is in (with apparently mostly improvised lines). Director McG previously directed Terminator Salvation (2009 sci-fi with Christian Bale) and would next make 3 Days to Kill (2014 action with Kevin Costner). The script was written by Timothy Dowling (who wrote a pair of Adam Sandler films Just Go with It in 2011 and Pixels in 2015) and Simon Kinberg (who wrote Sherlock Holmes in 2009 and X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014). Chris Pine was previously in Unstoppable (2010 action with Denzel Washington) and was next in People Like Us (2012 drama with Elizabeth Banks) and voiced Jack Frost in Rise of the Guardians (2012 animated adventure with Hugh Jackman). Tom Hardy was previously in Warrior (2011 sport drama with Joel Edgerton), and would next be in Lawlesss (2012 crime with Shia LaBeouf) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012 action with Christian Bale). Also appearing in the film is Til Schweiger, Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett, Abigail Spencer, and Rosemary Harris. The Blu-ray includes a short film, 3 alternate endings, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and an extended version of the film.
Links
Mud
This Means War