Bryan Singer does his best to honor Richard Donner, which sort of doesn't need to happen.

But Visionary Director Zack Snyder™ clearly watched this and took notes when it came to "remaking" his vision for how the hero could be.

There is so much happening here: a random cameo from Gérard Depardieu; a flying robot that becomes a suicidal piano player; Billy Boyd drinking--and, oh yes, the unexplained flying robot supposed to help with therapy that instead becomes sentient and turns itself into a bomb. At every turn, there's a new descent into WTF that made this a personal favorite for Avant Retard of 2011.

The hopeful end of Nichols' "Dads" trilogy takes a slight step into the realm of Southern mythos before quickly mooring itself in reality. Aside from having another entry in the "holy shit Matthew McConaughey" column, "Mud" takes Nichols down the road for a teaching parable about what's expected from fathers, sons and the expectation of tradition will ruin a life.

Also marks David Wingo getting his country fried rock on along with a Dirty Three track from "Cinder."