Mudbound

R

Released Nov 17, 2017

2 hr. 14 min.

History

Drama

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List

97%

204 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees' Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta. Mudbound follows the McAllan family, newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis and unprepared for the harsh demands of farming. Despite the grandiose dreams of Henry, his wife Laura struggles to keep the faith in her husband's losing venture. Meanwhile, Hap and Florence Jackson -- sharecroppers who have worked the land for generations -- struggle bravely to build a small dream of their own despite the rigidly enforced social barriers they face. The war upends both families' plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie McAllan and Ronsel Jackson, forge a fast but uneasy friendship that challenges the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South in which they live.

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Critics Consensus

Mudbound offers a well-acted, finely detailed snapshot of American history whose scenes of rural class struggle resonate far beyond their period setting.

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Andrea C

Dramma solido, crudo e reale che si incentra quasi totalmente sui personaggi, dando poca importanza agli eventi, resi pochi e lineari, tutti funzionali allo sviluppo dei protagonisti. I sei protagonisti sono strutturati molto bene, le voci narranti aggiungono potenza e spessore ad ogni personaggio rendendolo pieno di dettagli e molto vicino ad una vera persona. Senza dubbio il legame che si crea con i personaggi è potente e l'empatia diventa una parte importante del film. A mio avviso il finale non è soddisfacente, in generale nell'ingresso della fase finale il film diventa leggermente ripetitivo ed aggiunge troppi pochi eventi importanti alla trama. Anche la scelta di offrire un'alternativa visione del protagonista e del suo amico non convince.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

Full Review

David W

While well executed cinematically, the story was a bit sluggish for my taste, especially in the first half. Another go at editing could have improved the final product. When combined with its emotional intensity, this is a film I would only watch again if there were no better choices.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Alec B

The film doesn't wallow too much in misery nor does it become unrealistically sentimental, both of which would have been easy with the material. Also, the transitions between the different character perspectives are seamless.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Thomas K

This movie is incredible in every way. I love love this movie!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/23

Full Review

Margo T

A movie about anti-Black racism but mainly about many other things. A movie about racism that is not self indulgent in a snowflake self pity about imaginary threats that you can blame your failures on but about real issues people went through in the past. Bravo for not inserting modern vocabulary into movie about 1940s. Shame that Black people portrayed are all very one dimensional characters all very noble and good, and shame about few simplistic statements. That unfortunately ruins a bit otherwise brilliant movie quietly and slowly telling the truth. Leaves you wishing they told more.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

David K

Two men substitute the lack of post-war psychotherapy by building a friendship beyond the social boundaries of their time. Nice storytelling, well-described characters, great acting. What a piece of a movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

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Dee Rees

Director

Carey Mulligan

Laura McAllan

Jason Clarke

Henry McAllan

Jason Mitchell

Ronsel Jackson

Mary J. Blige

Florence Jackson

Rob Morgan

Hap Jackson

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Mudbound: B-Roll

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Mudbound: Trailer 1

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Mudbound: Teaser Trailer 1

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The players are uniformly excellent.

Apr 16, 2020

Full Review

Anne Thompson

indieWire

Rees embraced the book's multiple narrators, lacing the two families into a complex tapestry.

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

Screenwriter and Director, Dee Rees makes a brilliant decision to focus on sharecropping. It's a profession that's rarely represented on film.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Benedict Seal

Vague Visages

While the second half is the film’s strongest, Rees’ ambitious film captures the same sweeping spark as so many great American novels.

Dec 5, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s a difficult movie but an honest one that isn’t afraid to examine the stains of our past earnestly and without manipulation.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The film moves among these families with an effortlessness that demonstrates their sameness, while also providing an achingly relevant commentary on how notions of racial inequality prove false and inhuman.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 17, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees' Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta. Mudbound follows the McAllan family, newly transplanted from the quiet civility of Memphis and unprepared for the harsh demands of farming. Despite the grandiose dreams of Henry, his wife Laura struggles to keep the faith in her husband's losing venture. Meanwhile, Hap and Florence Jackson -- sharecroppers who have worked the land for generations -- struggle bravely to build a small dream of their own despite the rigidly enforced social barriers they face. The war upends both families' plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie McAllan and Ronsel Jackson, forge a fast but uneasy friendship that challenges the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South in which they live.

Director: Dee Rees
Executive Producer: David Gendron, Poppy Hanks, Ali Jazayeri, Dee Rees, Jennifer Roth, Daniel Steinman, Teddy Schwarzman
Screenwriter: Dee Rees, Virgil Williams
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: MMC Joule Films, Black Bear Pictures, Zeal Media, ArtImage Entertainment, Netflix, Armory Films, Elevated Films (II), MACRO
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Violence|Nudity|Brief Language)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2017
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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