If you’re anything like me and you love movies, but COVID-19 has made you rely on movies for your predominant form of entertainment. However, there is nothing worse than scrolling endlessly through streaming services in search of the perfect movie to watch. Most times, I’ll just give up and rewatch Walk the Line for the fiftieth time. 

I realized this frustration early on in quarantine and decided I would make a list of movies to watch so that I could avoid the endless trap of trailers. After asking my parents, siblings, friends, and really anyone who was willing to share their top movie picks, a mega list was composed. Today, this list is still growing and changing by the day, and I figured I could put it to some use rather than let it sit in my Notes app. 

So, with this being said, welcome to C.Hick’s Flicks. (You try coming up with a column title with a name like Carmel!) Here, I will be selecting movies to highlight so that when you have downtime, you can revisit this column for ideas on what to watch. Given that everyone has different tastes in movies, I will gladly take requests for future selections.

This week, I’ll be focusing on the 2012 film, Mud, starring Matthew McConaughey. After he posted a video on Instagram explaining why it was his favorite movie that he has acted in, it became a must-watch for me.

The engaging drama, set in Arkansas, follows the lives of two teenage boys, Ellis and Neckbone, who come across Mud (Matthew McConaughey) while exploring a small island off of the Mississippi River. Over the course of the film, these boys do whatever they can to help Mud, who is hiding from bounty hunters after a mishap involving his first love Juniper, played by Reese Witherspoon. 

Matthew McConaughey uses his natural charm as a tool to build Mud’s irresistibility, which is evident in the boys’ fascination with him. His heart of gold makes them ignore the reputation Mud has and they choose to look at him as a mentor, despite him being the polar opposite of one. 

The combination of Twain-esque storytelling and the authentic portrayal of life on the River makes this movie engaging until the very end. It is sure to please anyone who appreciates an undeniably heartwarming coming-of-age story. Mud’s ability to charm the boys with his charismatic approach to life is contagious, and you can’t help but let Mud rub off on you too.

Mud is available to stream on Netflix and HBO Max.