"Mudbound," co-adapted from Hilary Jordan's novel by director Dee Rees and Virgil Williams, takes a long, hard look at the system of racial inequality that defined the 1940s South, focusing on the relationship that forms (and the consequences of that relationship) between two World War II veterans, one white and one black. These two men, Jamie McAllan (Garett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), have much in common except the color of their skin. "Mudbound" shows racism in many forms, both large and small. There are the obvious, like the constant threats of violence, the segregation on buses and store entrances and the white hoods of the Ku Klux Klan, and the subtle ones, like the entitlement of some whites who, although seemingly respectful, expect subservience from blacks or the way sharecropping is rigged to force many black farmers into states of near-slavery. The film also shows the contrast of how black soldiers are treated overseas and what awaits them on their return.
The characters are as carefully developed as the setting. Just about every member of this exceptional ensemble cast has a three-dimensional personality. The exception is Pappy (Jonathan Banks), who is an embodiment of the worst of racial hatred. The villain is racism and we see Pappy in this role. The land on which the two families live and work is brown and defeating, eating away at the souls of those involved. Strong performances abound: Garett Hedlund's Jamie, tortured with PTSD and self-medicating with alcohol; Jason Mitchell's Ronsel, whose quiet dignity gives testimony to the strength of his character; Mary J. Bilge's Florence, Ronsel's mother and wife to Hap (Rob Morgan), the gentle grace that holds both families together. Other key roles are filled by Carey Mulligan, Jason Clark, Rob Morgan and Jonathan Banks. "Mudbound" is available on Netflix if you can't find it in a theater. It's a difficult movie to watch, but definitely worth seeing.
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