"Cold in July" with Don Johnson and Michael Hall (2014)

When Richard Dane; played by Michael Hall; shoots an intruder in his home one night he is hailed as a hero by the local townsfolk. But Richard; a local picture framer, doesn’t quite see it that way.  He knows that he has taken a life and that no good can possibly come of it.

No charges are filed as the shooting appears to be justified, although the dead man was unarmed, Richard was blinded by a flashlight and was in fear for his safety as well as that of his wife and child.

Plagued by guilt over the shooting he goes to watch the body being buried. As he is watching the burial he is approached by the dead man’s ex-con father Russel; played by Sam Shepard; who is clearly looking for revenge. He intimates that Richard’s son is now in jeopardy.  When he reports this to the local police they don’t really seem too concerned at first. But, as their interest in the case heats up, it becomes apparent that they are hiding something.

At this point another man enters Richard’s life, which is quickly spinning out of control. Jim Bob; played by Don Johnson; is a hard man. You can tell it by the way he carries himself. He quickly establishes that Richard has been used by the local au help cover up their own involvement in a Federal sting operation involving a pornography ring. The man Richard is supposed to have killed is involved in that ring and has received Federal protection in the Witness Protection Program.

This leaves 2 problems; if the man Richard is supposed to have killed is not dead, then who did he kill? And why do the local police now seem to be his enemy instead of his friends? As the plot thickens even Russel becomes part of the team with Richard and Jim Bob to find the truth behind it all. And when all the facts are in Russel has to face up to something almost unspeakable.

This may be one of Don Johnson’s best films to date.  Sam Shepard is superb, as he always is, as the dead man’s father. He brings a physiological aspect to the film which really helps to convey the story. And Michael Hall is excellent as the prototypical “everyman” who is just trying to protect his home and gets caught up in something way over his head. Just how he manages to rise above it is one of the most gripping parts of the film.

Excellent direction by Jim Mickle, who also wrote the screenplay from the novel by Joe R. Lansdale, along with such excellent performances, will keep you on the edge of your seat for this entire film.

"Mud" with Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon (2012)

Don’t be fooled by the slow methodical pace of this film. It all leads to a stunning and surprise ending. Neckbone and Ellis are two young boys living near the river in Arkansas when they encounter a man named Mud who lives in a houseboat which has somehow become lodged in a tree on a deserted island in the river. He claims that he is waiting on a girl named Juniper; played by Reese Witherspoon.

Ellis’ parents are in the midst of a separation which resembles some of the problems that Mud and Juniper may have been having. It’s hard to tell what is real or not with Mud; played by Matthew McConaughey. He is obviously on the run from something, but what? It turns out to be a murder. Mud has killed a man who wasn’t treating Juniper right. He expects her to come and meet him on the island. Mud plans to fix the old boat up and make his escape down the river. At least that’s the plan.

When Neckbone; played by Jacob Lofland; and Ellis; played by Tye Sheridan; spot Juniper in town they assume that she has come to rendezvous with Mud. But there are bounty hunters gathering to avenge the death of one of their own. The boys see all this activity and put two and two together. They are divided about what to do, or not, to help Mud.

 

Mud convinces them to scrounge parts to help him renovate the old boat. This leads to some conflicts between Ellis and his father, who is trying to save his marriage and his home on the river. When Ellis realizes that Mud has used both himself and Neckbone for his own selfish ends he is furious, but when his life is suddenly on the line, just as Mud is about to make his break, Mud is the one who rescues him in a dramatic race against time from a deadly snake bite.

Although he is being relentlessly pursued by the bounty hunters he insists that Neckbone take him to visit Ellis before he leaves. A gun battle ensues with the bounty hunters, who have been staking out the boys home, and aided by his mysterious friend from across the river he is able to escape to freedom.

Joe Don Baker; as the mysterious neighbor; and Sam Shepard; as Ellis’ dad; both deliver outstanding performances. Armed with a gripping screenplay director Jeff Nichols has delivered a flawless film. You really don’t want to miss this one.