“The Rivals of Amziah King” is the second feature from director Andrew Patterson — the follow-up to his Independent Spirit Awards nominee “The Vast of Night” (2019 awards qualification; 2020 Prime Video release). Well, this was worth the six-year wait. It’s a heck of a directorial showcase for Patterson, who also wrote the screenplay. This is a fascinating saga and a unique cinematic experience, blending genres, taking chances, and creating an atmosphere that likely won’t be duplicated on the big screen the rest of this year.
I didn’t know much about the story going in, only that Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey plays the title character, an Oklahoma beekeeper and honey producer. The opening scene sees McConaughey performing a song, with powerhouse sound and some unique editing choices as accompaniment. What a way to kick this off! A section that follows (featuring “The Grand Budapest Hotel” actor Tony Revolori) is tonally interesting, incorporating some humor. It’s the low point of the movie for me — not awful, but it doesn’t work quite as well as intended — and the film quickly gets much better from then on.
There’s more music, and the introduction of Kateri (played by Angelina LookingGlass in a great, breakthrough performance). Amziah was her foster dad for a couple years as a child. She’s back in town, and the two reconnect, especially over Amziah’s honey business. McConaughey gets the opportunity to deliver several monologues, including one at a Pot Luck dinner, that are quite strong. This is up there with “Dallas Buyers Club” and “White Boy Rick” (along with voice performances in “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “Sing”) as some of the best work of his career. And there’s a sequence at a school (with a couple elements that might remind you of last year’s McConaughey drama, “The Lost Bus”) that is as compelling as anything I’ve seen in a live-action film this year.
The back 3/5-ish of “The Rivals of Amziah King” is a mystery / investigation thriller. You go along for this sweeping, surprising, satisfying ride. The flow of the film feels right. Kurt Russell plays fellow beekeeper Dob McCoy, and it’s one of my favorite roles of his ever. There are layers and themes that are prominent in pretty much every scene. And all the bees are real.
I applaud Patterson for creating something original, gritty and gutsy, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store next. If his first two films are any indication, it should be pretty effective and memorable.
LCJ GRADE: B+
Running Time: 130 min.