Mud

"People don't change."  That's a frequent quote from Matthew Weiner, the creative mastermind behind  "Mad Men."  It's a sentiment I tend to agree with, but it creates a conundrum for character-based dramas.  If people don't change, how do you create meaningful action?  Some character studies ignore this issue and pay little attention to plot.  That's a fine approach, but some movies aim for more.  How to do that without giving the audience a dishonest ending, one that tells us a character will now live happily--or perhaps unhappily--ever after, when he'll probably just revert to his old ways?

I won't spoil the ending, but "Mud" faces this trap and then artfully finds its way out.  The protagonist, Ellis, is a 14-year-old who seems to be seeing his illusions about love crashing down around him.  His parents are on the brink of divorce and he's fallen for a 16-year-old who gives him just enough attention to break his heart.  But he's also helping Mud, a drifter played by Matthew McConaughey, to reunite with his girlfriend, played by Reese Witherspoon.

Another movie would have McConaughey and Witherspoon ride off into the sunset, reaffirming Ellis' faith in the power of love.  An extremely downbeat ending was also possible.  But "Mud" takes a more honest approach.  It shows us that the characters have had significant experiences and learned from them.  They may or may not apply those lessons.  But that's how life tends to be.  It's about experiences, not magical personal growth.

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"Mud" also offers a good opportunity to reflect on the talents of McConaughey.  By now every seemingly every film critic has recounted his comeback tale since he started taking movies seriously again.  But McConaughey is a rare breed of actor.  He's not just a movie star, someone with a distinct persona who's fun to hang out with for two hours.  He's also a talented actor.  Will Smith and Tom Cruise have plenty of charisma, but they're basically playing themselves in every movie.  McConaughey has a definite brand, but he's also capable of slipping into a role.  He's more like Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, or Paul Newman.  They all had familiar personas, but they were talented enough to carry real films, not just popcorn flicks.  McConaughey is now on track to join their ranks as a screen legend.