The Rivals of Amziah King is a funnier-than-expected modern western that flips halfway through to become a crime caper not unlike Ocean’s Eleven.
Matthew McConaughey stars as the titular Amziah. He is a fast-talking beekeeper in a small Oklahoma town; he is also a musician and generally well-loved by his community. One day he runs into his former foster daughter, Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), and invites her to come to work for him whilst also trying to keep thieves away from his business. As it turns out, the honey and beekeeping business is a cut-throat industry.
When you cast McConaughey in a role you are going to get either a fun and kind of goofy role or a well-acted dramatic role. He manages to perfectly blend these two types of performances here, giving a phenomenal performance that is both funny and sentimental. He’s backed by a fantastic supporting cast, with Angelina LookingGlass proving to be a standout as Kateri, who appears meek and timid but is unafraid to get her hands dirty when necessary. Scott Shepherd, as Amziah’s loyal worker, is hilarious, even if no one can understand about 90% of what he says. Rob Morgan, as Amziah’s lawyer, gives off a straight-man vibe with beautifully delivered deadpan lines. The film even briefly stars Kurt Russell in a small but memorable role as the kind of villain that harks back to his Death Proof role, but not nearly as violent.
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The first half of the film is just a fun time overall. Whether it’s a jam session with Amziah’s neighbours, attending a potluck, or even learning the dangers of long hair and heavy machinery in a somehow comedic way, every character interaction feels authentic. It’s like watching actual friends just hanging out: a random group of eclectic people just living their lives and experiencing one random event after another. It almost gives off Napoleon Dynamite vibes. Once the second half begins and Amziah’s bees get stolen along with all his honey, the film changes drastically. It essentially becomes a heist film.
The music and score of the film are almost a character in themselves. The musical performances throughout, including McConaughey actually playing and singing, fit perfectly. The songs are lively, energetic and very easy to tap your foot to. The cinematography by M.I. Littin-Menz (Hands of Stone, The Vast of Night) is also beautiful, in particular a couple of shots of McConaughey and LookingGlass interacting with a swarm of bees (apparently achieved without CGI). The film also has a sort of grainy effect, like it was filmed in 1974, rather than looking clean-cut and crisp like today’s films, adding to the charm and making the film feel timeless.
For only his second film as director, Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night) has crafted a funny, well-paced piece of work. The characters are quirky but never stray too far from reality. Given the fact that the film switches genres halfway through, it pulls it off quite well in my opinion. Just when you are nice and comfortable, the rug is pulled out from under you, but it isn’t too jarring.
The Rivals of Amziah King is an immensely enjoyable film with impressive acting, some great musical performances, and an engrossing, evolving story that keeps you engaged.
