Viewers can’t stop raving over the historical war drama (Image: Netflix)
Those searching for their next emotionally charged and compelling viewing experience are in luck, as we have the perfect suggestion. While the war drama genre is packed with outstanding offerings, there is one frequently overlooked treasure that is being hailed as essential viewing by both critics and audiences alike.
The 2017 historical war drama Mudbound has left viewers utterly captivated, with many describing it as a ‘masterpiece’ they cannot stop thinking about even days after watching. Directed by Dee Rees with a screenplay by Rees and Virgil Williams, Mudbound is adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Hillary Jordan. The film boasts an impressive cast including Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Jonathan Banks, Rob Morgan, and Mary J. Blige, all of whom earned tremendous acclaim for their performances following the film’s release.
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Available to stream on Netflix, the film’s official synopsis states: “Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees’ Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta.”
Mudbound enjoyed a remarkable awards season run, earning two nominations at the Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Blige) and Best Original Song (Mighty River).
At the Oscars, the war drama secured nominations across four categories: Best Supporting Actress for Blige; Best Original Song for Blige, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson, which made Blige the only person to ever be nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year; Best Adapted Screenplay for Rees and Virgil Williams, making director Rees the first African-American woman to ever be nominated in that category; and Best Cinematography, which made Rachel Morrison the first woman ever nominated in that category, reports the Mirror.
Boasting a near-perfect 97% approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Mudbound represents an exceptional fusion of flawless storytelling, stirring performances, and universal themes that resonate powerfully even today, despite being a period drama set during the 1940s.
One critic said of the war drama: “Dee Rees created a remarkable piece of art that not only showcases a heartbreaking time in our history, but also causes you to question what pieces of this time still remain today.”
While another shared their emotional reaction to it: “This film destroyed me. It kicked me in the stomach, ripped out my guts, and stomped on them. Watch it. Watch it immediately.”
Another reviewer called it a ‘masterpiece’ and wrote: “Dee Rees’ masterpiece is the closest thing we’ve seen in a while to George Stevens’ ‘Giant’ or John Ford’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’; a salt-of-the-earth epic that rises to the level of tragic literature.” While one simply shared: “Mudbound is going to be one of the hard to forget films of 2017 or this decade.”
The war drama has a smashing 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes (Image: Netflix)
Yet another impressed critic commented: “Elevating Netflix‘s theatrical game, Mudbound is a powerful and absorbing film, one that does a splendid job of preserving its literary voice while painting a densely layered portrait of two families in World War 2-era Mississippi.”
Audience reviews for the war drama are equally complimentary, with one viewer writing: “I seldom award five stars, reserving it for truly exceptional films.
“I’m pleased to affirm that this movie earned its five-star rating-it was truly outstanding. The narrative was captivating, offering a poignant glimpse into the challenges faced by people in that era, particularly dealing with hate and racism.
“While it wasn’t enjoyable to witness the hardships of the past, it was undeniably compelling. The performances were phenomenal, and the direction was unparalleled. Overall, an extraordinary film that comes highly recommended.”
Meanwhile, one IMDB user review states: “Netflix has made a film worthy of the highest praise. The entire screening audience became engrossed in this movie, so quiet you could hear a pin drop on the carpet. The story unfolds necessarily slow and snares you.
“The different perspectives of the storytellers is blatantly obvious while the movie spares little in realistic actions that make the viewer cringe at times, laugh at times and cry at times.
“It doesn’t hold back. The acting is top notch. It is also a movie for our times. People from the screening audience are still talking about this movie four days later. An Oscar contender this should be.”
The emotional war drama is based on a novel (Image: Netflix)
Another user writes: “Extraordinary!!! I can’t remember the last time I watched a film that was so touching. Especially set more than half a century ago, the acting is exceptionally great. The narrative is as smooth as molasses. But what really caught in my soul was that some of these racial prejudices still exist.
“Well done to all the tellers and actors – You have made my month! (maybe my year) I’d bet you’ll never be the same for having the chance to perform these roles. Bravo!”
One viewer heaped further praise upon the film, writing: “One of the Best Movies This Year – Raw, Real, Emotionally Captivating. This is by far one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, and in my opinion will stand to be one of the best period pieces ever created. Outstanding film!”
Mudbound is available to stream on Netflix.