A Timeless Moment in Time

Rating: 8/10 (4 December 2017)

The most disheartening thing about watching films revolve around slavery during the Civil War is that ultimately racism and discrimination didn't end when that war was over. In fact, they are still very prominent subjects in today's world. Which is why Mudbound works very well as a World War II period piece in the south. The same sort of racism and vastly unfair treatment people of color received back during slavery times happened during the civil rights era and are pretty much happening again now. All within varying degrees of severity, but still very much an issue in the public eye. The point being that Mudbound is a depressingly timeless story about two soldiers (one white, one black) coming home from World War II and not getting the best of welcomes from the townsmen and their opposing families.
Mudbound is one of those films that doesn't necessarily push the boundaries of historical fiction or even films based around inequality. However, it does provide an intriguing story about two people who form an unlikely bond, which is tested when racism floods their world in Mississippi. When the characters are written well, the direction is on point, and the performances are impeccably good, some of the minor issues can be swept under the rug.
Those performances include turns from Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, and Jonathan Banks. All of which are equally effective. I've always believed the best compliment you can give an actor is that they blend so much into their characters that you think you're watching a documentary where the people don't know they are being filmed. It almost felt like these were particular moments in these families lives and I was just there to witness things unfold. And to that point, I'm sure that a story this dark and this haunting happened, especially when you consider how secluded the families are to the rest of civilization being on a farm. Overall, Mudbound is a gritty, devastating, and most of all important film that is sure to be up for some awards this winter.
8.4/10