Starstruck

As if the Mueller neighborhood doesn’t already have enough close encounters with famous filmmakers and award-winning actors, with Austin Film Studios next door, the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller was recently officially dedicated as the Matthew McConaughey Cinema on Monday, August 10. 

The festivities began with vibrant music performed by the talented Heart of Texas Mariachi inside Barrel O’ Fun bar downstairs, while guests sipped McConaughey’s new Pantalones brand of tequila. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson mingled with the crowd, along with several members of the press and McConaughey aficionados. The atmosphere was lively and distinctly Austin, with music, drinks, film, and a hometown celebrity all coming together under one roof. 

McConaughey, accompanied by his wife, Camila, and children, Levi, Livingston, and Vida Alves, emerged from the stage doors to an enthusiastic crowd. The award-winning actor and Texas native took the stage with his usual debonair charm as Mayor Kirk Watson proclaimed August 10 as Matthew McConaughey Cinema Day. Alamo Drafthouse Director of Brand Strategy John Smith then unveiled the new Matthew McConaughey Cinema plaque, officially marking the theater’s new name. 

Director Andrew Patterson also gave praise to McConaughey for his role in his new film, “The Rivals of Amziah King.” McConaughey got the crowd excited about the film, calling it “a story about the misfits and outcasts that has a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of soul.” 

After the dedication speeches, guests were led upstairs to view an advance screening of the film, but I lingered for a moment to grab a photo with McConaughey and let him know Mueller Magazine was thrilled to feature him. I floated on cloud nine as I made my way up to the theater to see him on the big screen.

An Engaging Project

Seated in the front row, I was very taken with the movie from the start. The setting is rural Oklahoma, though much of it was filmed near Birmingham, Alabama. McConaughey’s character, Amziah, is a beekeeper and charismatic musician who regularly gathers with eccentric members of the community to sing songs. The plot thickens when there’s a clear threat to Amziah’s honey business and the community at large. There are some twists and unexpected turns in the story that kept the audience engaged. 

Part comedy and part crime drama, the film has been receiving praise from Roger Ebert and Rotten Tomatoes. For Mueller residents, the theater’s location makes it especially easy to catch a screening. With the cinema just a short walk away for many neighborhood residents, seeing McConaughey’s latest film at the theater bearing his name feels like a fitting Austin experience. 

Following the film, a Q&A with McConaughey, Patterson, and lead actress Angelina LookingGlass was moderated by Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro. During the Q&A, McConaughey praised 18-year-old LookingGlass, an up-and-coming Indigenous woman who plays his foster daughter, Kateri, in the movie.

When asked why they chose her, McConaughey responded, “She was not performative during her audition.” Patterson added, “She had focus and a control I could direct.” Be on the lookout for more from LookingGlass, as she shined in the film and held her own alongside the more experienced cast. 

After the Q&A, the fun continued as the audience was invited back to Barrel O’ Fun for more drinks and music, this time with McConaughey himself. Musicians from the film, including The Last Bison, joined him for a live performance, giving guests one more opportunity to celebrate the new cinema and the film. The celebration lasted well into the night. 

For McConaughey, the honor places him among a group of filmmakers and performers who have been given the distinction of having Alamo Drafthouse cinemas named after them. The group includes Christopher Nolan, Pam Grier, Spike Lee, John Hughes, and Ivan Reitman. 

The dedication of the Matthew McConaughey Cinema felt very Austin-esque as a celebration of the city’s enduring connection to movies and the people who make them. For a neighborhood already surrounded by Austin’s film culture, it seems like a fitting addition to Mueller.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a retired teacher, published author, and freelance writer.

Photograph by Erika Rich