The movie “The Rivals of Amziah King” offers a glimpse into a honey business rife with deception and rivalry among beekeepers. The title character warns that the industry is not filled with kind people, illustrating the cutthroat nature through theft and sabotage.
Matthew McConaughey stars as Amziah King, a honey producer navigating rural Oklahoma. His performance is marked by his characteristic charm and wit. Early scenes show King engaging with the local community, ordering food and playing music, before being drawn into a mystery surrounding abandoned honey barrels worth $250,000.
The film, written by Andrew Patterson and James Montague, and directed by Patterson, transitions abruptly through multiple genres. Starting with elements of sudden violence reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino, it incorporates elements of coming-of-age, heist, and revenge with a backdrop of music and community celebrations.
Angelina LookingGlass, in her film debut, enters the story halfway. She portrays King’s former foster daughter, adding depth with grounded wisdom. King imparts local knowledge, including culinary advice and life lessons, depicting bees as symbols of community and resilience.
Cinematographer M.I. Littin-Menz uses diverse techniques from frozen shots to intense close-ups. The camera work remains dynamic but sometimes distracts from the narrative. The music, managed by Winslow Bright, often overwhelms scenes with loud compositions, possibly to counterbalance the genre shifts.
Great performances include Kurt Russell as a charismatic local kingpin and Owen Teague as a former Marine-turned-thief. Despite borrowing elements from films like “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, the movie lacks authentic storytelling. While Patterson sets scenes in Oklahoma, much was filmed in Alabama, adding to the sense of inauthenticity in both place and story.
The film, released by Black Bear, is rated R for language and grisly images. It has a runtime of 130 minutes and earns two stars out of four.