85
Metascore
44 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100The GuardianJordan HoffmanThe GuardianJordan HoffmanA hundred well-placed plot breadcrumbs lead us to our perfect ending, but apart from scriptwriting craft Rees gets in some bravura scenes of high tension.
- 91ConsequenceDominick Suzanne-MayerConsequenceDominick Suzanne-MayerWhat’s perhaps most remarkable about Mudbound is its emotional honesty, Rees rarely sidestepping the inner lives of her characters and never diminishing their own battles to live in an unlivable time, however wrongheaded they might be.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyMudbound requires a taste for leisurely storytelling generally more focused on building careful nuances and layered characters than on big dramatic cymbal clashes. But patient investment pays off in an epic that creeps up on you, its stealth approach laced with intelligence, elegance and an affecting balance of humanity and moral indignation.
- 83The PlaylistGregory EllwoodThe PlaylistGregory EllwoodMudbound soars thanks to the impressive performances of the ensemble cast and, notably, Rees’ intent on depicting the harsh reality of this pre-Civil Rights era, warts and all.
- 80VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeThough the sheer scope of the material overwhelms “Pariah” director Dee Rees at times, she finds shoots of optimism among the mire that couldn’t be more welcome at a moment when the country seems more divided than ever.
- 80ScreenCrushE. Oliver WhitneyScreenCrushE. Oliver WhitneyThere’s a novelistic quality to Mudbound that elevates it from what could have been a traditional and singular story about struggle and oppression into a layered, multi-dimensional one.
- 75The Film StageJordan RaupThe Film StageJordan RaupFilled with scenes both broad and understated, Mudbound may take some time to find an engaging rhythm and poignant depth, but once it does, the powerful last act will not be soon forgotten.
- 70Screen DailyAnthony KaufmanScreen DailyAnthony KaufmanMudbound is full of strong performances, singular moments, and a heavy heart, but it’s an over-ambitious affair that struggles to find the right balance between its many characters.
- 40TheWrapSteve PondTheWrapSteve PondIts powerful moments are too often swamped by melodrama that undercuts the director’s skills as a storyteller.