Undertow (film)

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Undertow

Directed by	David Gordon Green
Produced by	Terrence Malick
Written by	Joe Conway
Starring	Jamie Bell Dermot Mulroney Josh Lucas Devon Alan
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	October 22, 2004
Running time	108 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Undertow (2004) is the third film by young American filmmaker David Gordon Green.

The film is by far Green's most mainstream film in that it deals with a story more accessible and fairytale-like than his earlier and extremely personal films. It is also the first to use a full cast of well-known actors. The protagonist of the film is Chris Munn played by Jamie Bell. Bell is a young actor from the UK most known for his portrayal of the title character in Billy Elliot. In the film he portrays a somewhat troubled and restless teen. Bell's flawless southern accent was praised by audiences. His father John Munn is played by Dermot Mulroney. John Munn's brother Deel comes to visit and is portrayed by Josh Lucas. His arrival stirs up old feelings in the Munn family, mostly the father John. Soon unexpected events shock young Chris and his younger brother into action as they are forced to run away from home.

The boys' journey takes them to an assortment of fairytale-like characters and leads them and their pursuers to a conclusion which deals with the underlying themes of greed and family hatred.

Green's direction won many plaidits. Much inspired by Terrence Malick who produced this film, Green's landscape is real and very tangible, while being cold and distant from the human violence. The people met on the journey are just off-kilter from real people and the flight of the boys takes on a dreamy level of surreality as they run into strangers and communities of vagrants.

The film was received with mixed feelings by critics and viewers alike. As with all of Green's films, leading critic Roger Ebert gave it a full four stars calling it "a masterpiece" among other things. Others felt that it was empty and showy, visually stimulating but lifeless.