Joey Magidson
It’s almost impossible to pin down what type of a movie The Rivals of Amziah King is. Is it a musical? Is it a rural comedy? A father-daughter tale? By the end, it’s become more of a drama, and even a revenge thriller of sorts. Part of the film’s charm is that, essentially, it’s all of these things. Not all of the elements coalesce as well as you’d like, but more of it works than doesn’t, especially in the first half, where the surprise of its offbeat nature really does sneak up on you. Despite its flaws, this flick has so much personality, the shagginess becomes close to a feature, as opposed to a bug.
The Rivals of Amziah King has a bloated running time and loses some of its charm in the second half, but the surprises it contains do make up for some of that. Strong acting, as well as a genuine sense that you’ve never seen a film quite like this before, go a long way. When you never know what a movie is going to do next, that’s legitimately exciting. Even as the hit rate on its choices goes down towards the end, it still kept me very much engaged.
Set in rural Oklahoma, Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey) is all but the mayor of his deep backwoods town. Charismatic and musical, Amziah doesn’t just have a misfit bluegrass band he plays in, he also runs the best honey-making operation int he area. Nearly everyone seems to like him, seeing the big heart and singular spirit that sets him apart. We meet him being recruit by local law enforcement to help determine who might have stolen some honey, a process that leads to a shocking trip to the hospital for someone careless around his machinery. One day, he runs into his estranged foster daughter Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), who was taken from him when his wife passed away. Eager to forge a new and deeper connection, he recruits her to join his operation, creating a family business of sorts.
As good as things seem, Kateri also learns that, as the title indicates, Amziah has some rivals in the honey game, and one in particular (Kurt Russell), who seems to be above the law. When Kateri discovers that Amziah’s honeybees have been stolen, it sets off a chain of events that force her to step up and not just right that wrong, but to also take vengeance. Along with his friends/fellow musicians and employees, as well as those who just hate to see a good man go down (Jake Horowitz, Rob Morgan, Scott Shepherd, Cole Sprouse, et al), Kateri gets to work. There are surprises in the second half best left discovered, but the film certainly takes a turn into darker material.
Matthew McConaughey leads an eclectic and impressive cast, with Angelina LookingGlass making quite the theatrical debut, while Kurt Russell adds some unexpected layers to his supporting role. McConaughey is equally at home in the musical sequences as he is dispensing wisdom on the truth and lies of potluck dinner selections. You can easily see him in a Coen Brothers movie, he’s so well cast here. Considering that this was the project to bring him back to acting after a break, you really understand how he connected so deeply to the material. Russell initially seems just like a stock villain, but he has two scenes that add surprising depth to the part. Then, we have LookingGlass, who has one hell of a debut here, shouldering the second half of the flick in a way you’re not initially prepared for. It’s a star-making turn, to be sure. There’s nice work here from the aforementioned Jake Horowitz, Rob Morgan, Scott Shepherd, and Cole Sprouse, to be sure, in addition to Russell, and they fill the movie out with personality, but this is LookingGlass and McConaughey’s show. Other supporting players include Bruce Davis, Tony Revolori, Owen Teague, and more.
Filmmaker Andrew Patterson follows up his science fiction tale The Vast of Night with this backwoods folktale, really establishing himself as a unique storyteller. Crafting this beekeeping musician who anchors his eclectic community, Patterson not just writes a memorable character, he casts his world perfectly. The musical sequences are well shot and really set the mood, too. It’s a shame the film can’t match its first half energy the whole way, but there’s an intent to what Patterson is doing, so while I wish the entire movie was as fun, I understand the choice. At the same time, pacing suffers, which makes this 130 minute endeavor feel longer than it is.
The Rivals of Amziah King surprised me, showcasing a shaggy and unpredictable nature that allowed me to go with it for over two hours, forgiving its shortcomings. McConaughey fits this film like a glove, LookingGlass could be a star in the making, and Patterson may well have a great movie coming out of him very shortly. This flick is far from perfect, but it’s likely to sneak up on you, similarly to how it did for me.
SCORE: ★★★
Comments
Loading…