J.R. Fernandez

The movie could have been, and should have been, a five star effort, but the ending erased any possibility of that ever happening. In a span of five minutes, the movie went from a classic to a predictable disappointment. Why, oh why, did Mud not die at the end? Clearly, and without argument, the main character in the flick was Ellis. It was a sufficiently obvious that the kid had learned a life-changing lesson when he stepped out of his dad's pickup truck and saw a young lady wink at him in front of his mom's apartment: "there are many more fish in the River. Ain' no need for me to end up dead, like Mud, because of one woman". Instead, everyone had to live happily ever after; even the repugnant, mindless Mud. Why make a movie deep and meaningful when you can make it shallow and predictable?

Predictable ending; poor acting; dismal screenplay; even worse cinematography. Could've been saved by darker lighting or some filter to give the scenes a more sinister mood. Instead, most of it is filmed at high noon. Bad idea. The director saved some money by shooting during the day and ended up with a dud.

A masterpiece, powered by the sublime acting of Al Pacino and his superb supporting cast. The casting of this movie, alone, raises it to legendary status. The cinematography, showcasing the real life dystopia that was 1970s NYC, ensures that this movie will be revered by movie buffs who appreciate accurately depicted historical dramas.