The Alamo Drafthouse celebrates the release starring one of Austin’s favorites with Alamo Mueller becoming the Matthew McConaughey theater
After six years away from the big screen, Matthew McConaughey returns with The Rivals of Amziah King, a film that feels so perfectly tailored to his particular blend of charm, warmth, and charisma that it’s surprising it wasn’t written with him already attached to the role. Directed by Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night), the film is an unusual and engrossing blend of western, revenge tale, sweeping emotional drama, and bluegrass-infused Americana.
McConaughey plays Amziah King, a veteran honey maker deeply embedded in his local community. Musician, confidant, and widower, Amziah is pulled away from a bluegrass jam session at a drive-in by local police seeking his help in identifying the source of several barrels of stolen honey worth as much as a quarter of a million dollars. An unfortunate series of events eventually leads him to a diner where he reconnects with Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass), a girl who years ago lived with Amziah and his wife as a foster child before being removed following his wife’s death. Their chance encounter allows them to pick up where they left off, rebuilding their relationship as Amziah takes her under his wing and introduces her to his worlds of beekeeping and bluegrass.
It’s a warm embrace of a first half, one filled with community and connection, before the film gradually drifts into darker drama and intrigue. When the pair find themselves at odds with agricultural magnate Dob McCoy (Kurt Russell) and his cynical attempts to control local markets, the theft of the King Honey hives sends Kateri on a mission not only to preserve Amziah’s legacy, but also to deliver justice to those who have wronged them.
The Rivals of Amziah King keeps audiences on their toes by constantly shifting expectations. It feels almost fable-like in the way it immerses viewers within this rural backwater, introducing a motley collection of characters, side stories, and curious events that flesh out the world. The life of a former Marine on parole, a rapidly sketched cast of locals preparing a potluck, an ongoing sheriff’s investigation into a business owner, a spate of beehive thefts, and even a startling incident involving a young man’s hair and a honey centrifuge all add color and texture to the experience. Each thread contributes to the larger tapestry of the story, but the film’s true throughline is one of life and legacy, loss and renewal. A major midpoint development threatens, momentarily, to rob the film of its momentum. Instead, it fuels some of its most reflective themes, deepening its exploration of life and death, memory and loss, and the ways we carry forward the people we love through action, remembrance, and community.
Much of this emotional weight rests on the relationship between Amziah and Kateri. While not a traditional father-daughter pairing, their bond carries those emotional roots, and the chemistry between the two actors is magnetic. Together, they convey a palpable sense of loneliness, alongside an urgent desire for connection and belonging. McConaughey brings the warmth one would expect, but also a sense of spirituality and communal responsibility that firmly plants Amziah at the heart of both the film and the town around him. LookingGlass, meanwhile, is a revelation. Even opposite the effortless charisma of McConaughey, she more than holds her own with an assured and deeply engaging performance. Kateri is as crafty as she is endearing, and LookingGlass captures every facet of that fearless complexity. I sincerely hope I never have to play poker against this woman. The supporting cast is equally strong, with textured performances from Jake Horowitz, Tony Revolori, Cole Sprouse, Bruce Davis, and others contributing to a world that feels genuinely lived in. Patterson populates the film with characters who exist beyond the boundaries of the story, creating a production that feels constantly alive and breathing.
Set in Oklahoma (although filmed in Alabama), the film warmly embraces a distinct sense of place. M.I. Littin-Menz’s cinematography captures golden-hour splendor with aplomb, lingering on dusty interiors, open skies, and the hypnotic dance of bees across the landscape. The film is brimming with Americana, aided immensely by a score and soundtrack that lean fully into its bluegrass heartbeat. Drawing from Ben Hardesty’s music and complemented by compositions from Erick Alexander and Jared Bulmer, the result is immersive, smile-inducing, and frequently toe-tapping.
The music is particularly effective in moments when these characters perform not for an audience, but for one another. Those scenes evoke a sense of warmth and camaraderie that feels entirely authentic. They brought to mind my own memories of arriving in Texas and spending warm summer nights in rural bars, welcomed by locals and united through shared drinks, stories, and song. Southern hospitality sustains you, and The Rivals of Amziah King captures that spirit beautifully.
John Montague’s screenplay grows a little shaggy in its latter stages, but it nevertheless captures something undeniably special. This is a character-driven work filled with rich dialogue and storytelling that recalls older dramatic traditions. It’s heartfelt work serving not only as a showcase for McConaughey’s return to leading-man duties, but also as a breakout moment for Angelina LookingGlass.
For Andrew Patterson, whose The Vast of Night already served as a statement of considerable talent, this feels like further confirmation. His filmmaking is instinctive, emotional, and deeply evocative. Ambiguous in tone and untethered to any specific moment in time, The Rivals of Amziah King is whimsical, profound, and ultimately rather magical. It’s the kind of storytelling that’s increasingly rare, and all the more special for it.
The screening itself was wrapped around by celebrations of McConaughey himself, with the Alamo Drafthouse renaming their Mueller location after the star. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, and Rivals director Andrew Patterson spoke glowingly about his reputation, both in the industry and outside of it, before a commemorative plaque was unveiled, prior to it’s installation outside the theater.
Following the screening and an associated Q&A (featuring McConaughay, Patterson and Angelika LookingGlass), revelry continued afterwards in the Barrel O’ Fun downstairs where McConaughey joined up with the musicians from the film to serenade attendees.
The Rivals of Amziah King hits theaters on August 14th
It’s fantastic to see Matthew McConaughey back in a role like this. I always appreciate films that can be genuinely funny and thoughtful at the same time.