Matthew McConaughey Responds to Boos Following 'The Sea of Trees' At Cannes

Critics may not have responded well to screenings of Matthew McConaughey's new drama, "The Sea of Trees," during its screening at the Cannes International Film Festival, but that's not going to ruffle the notoriously chill actor.

Watchers actually booed the film, but when asked for his response to the vocal dislike of his newest piece, the "True Detective" star sagely pointed out, "Anyone has as much right to boo as they do to ovate."

In the film, McConaughey plays a scientist named Aurthur, deeply grieving the death of his wife Joan (played by Naomi Watts). He travels to a suicide forest in Tokyo in order to die, but once there, he stumbles across an injured local trying to make his way out of the forest and home.

McConaughey admits that he was often confused and stressed during filming.

"There were many times during the making of this where I though, 'I don't know what I'm doing.' That frustrated me for a long time."

He added, "I like the film. I'm happy to be here, happy to be invited. Happy that the film got in."

It's not the only film to ever be met with booing at Cannes. "Pulp Fiction" and "Taxi Driver," for example, were also jeered.

Whether the film is worthwhile to the masses remains to be seen, but no one could find fault with the energy and effort McConaughey and Watts took into developing their characters.

With Watt's character only appearing in flashbacks, little was required of her at filming, and she did not join production until midway through. To help develop a relationship with her on-screen husband that would resonate despite their distance, Watts reached out to McConaughey early and asked if they could e-mail one another in character.

"If you can't get in a room with a person and see their eyes and take time with a conversation," Watts explained, "writing can be a good way to connect."

McConaughey responded immediately.

"Write at will. Love, Arthur."

"By the time we got to the set, we had a good month and a half of these letters," Watts said, even gushing to the press that McConaughey had written her poems as well.

"He is a beautiful writer and an incredible actor to work with."