“What goes up, must come down.” “How you get them is how you lose them.” These two idioms are some of the most popular phrases that outline the laws of what bind human beings and not only our relation to each other, but our relation to the world that surrounds us. In scientific terms, Sir Issac Newton’s third law of motion states that every action has an opposite and equal reaction. When objects interact, there are inevitable forces that follow. When we head toward a goal, clawing our way up the mountaintop, it’s easy to lose sight of how quickly we can lose what we’ve gained if we’re not careful. One area where this phenomenon is often on full display are illicit black market dealings like the drug trade.
American film is rich with tales of drug dealing gangsters of all persuasions. The Italian mafia, the Mexican mafia, LA street gangs, New York City crack kingpins. But tales of white southern drug dealing, of the “Dixie Mafia” are unexplored ground that Arkansas shows us is ripe for exploration. Based on the best-selling book, Arkansas spans three decades of drug trafficking in the Deep South beginning with Kyle Ribb (Liam Hemsworth) and Swin Horn (Clark Duke, also making his directorial debut) who find themselves cogs in the regional machine run by the shadowy drug kingpin Frog (Vince Vaughn). The pair begin by posing as junior park rangers by day to cover their true jobs as traffickers under the direction of middle manager trafficker Bright (John Malkovich) and supplier “Her” (Vivica A. Fox). While working the park front Swin begins dating a nurse named Johnna (Eden Brolin) while Kyle ponders the scope of the operation and his role in it. Following explosive developments, Kyle, Swin, and Johnna find themselves directly in Frog’s crosshairs, having to escape before it’s too late.
Arkansas is told non-linearly to great effect by Duke, with Kyle’s entry into the drug trade shown parallel with Frog’s rise decades earlier. Through the stories of both men, we see the ingenuity, cunning, and determination that fuel people to rise to the top of not only drug dealing, but any industry that they seek to conquer. The drive necessary to climb your way to a leadership role remains the same across any era, as does the life cycle of those who achieve it. The criminal underworld is a vicious cycle where winners stay on top momentarily until a new generation of young, hungry hustlers come to replace them just as they ascended themselves. Older success stories become content once they reach their pinnacle while someone who possesses the same zeal they once had along with the lack of standing that makes one passionate for succeeding comes for their spot in order to start the process all over again. Thus is the nature of achievement, whether it be in a boardroom or on the street. The past is prologue and what fuels us to greatness is ultimately what will fuel the competition to come replace us once time has caught up with us.
The film’s star studded cast offer great performances that help to elevate the well crafted film. Clark Duke pulls quadruple duty as writer, director, producer, and in his supporting role as Swin where he performs just as capably in front of the camera as he does behind it. His character provides much of the film’s levity and Swin’s charm as the lovable, kind of naive, kind of screw-up drug dealer is completely attributable to Duke’s own charm and ability. His relationship with Johnna comes across as believable and works onscreen due to the relatable chemistry between he and Eden Brolin. Brolin (yes, she’s John’s daughter and James’ granddaughter) also works as the love interest with a bit of her own agency, not just the helpless girlfriend of a criminal. Liam Hemsworth is the film’s lead and while he was slow to make an impression, as the story develops and gets into a groove, his performance picks up steam as well, culminating in the moment when he and Frog finally meet. Vince Vaughn and Hemsworth only share the screen twice, but their two scenes are among the film’s best. I was also pleased to see Michael K. Williams who impresses as always in a quick cameo role as Almond, Frog’s former mentor.
Arkansas is an entertaining watch that’s well-made and features enough thematic depth to elevate it to even greater heights. Clark Duke and Andrew Boonkrong’s tight script seamlessly tells a nonlinear story featuring two timelines that perfectly complement each other and convey the film’s message and theme. It’s depiction of the small town South and its underbelly feels genuine and authentic, transporting you directly into an environment that will be foreign to most. This is buoyed by a stellar soundtrack that fits the world we visit and the characters we meet. Despite venturing to places that may be unfamiliar to most, the point it makes about the cycle of not only the drug trade, but ascension up the ladder of success is universal, establishing Arkansas as a fresh new entry into the world of gangster films. An impressive debut feature for Clark Duke and a solid turn as a leading man for Liam Hemsworth, it will be interesting to see if Arkansas marks the first steps in their own rises to the top.
Image: Lionsgate
I agree with the review but add one missing fact and one amplification. 1) The novel’s author, unmentioned in the review, is cult favorite John Brandon and the non-linear structure is his. 2) The score is largely a well-done but low-key Morricone tribute that lends a Spaghetti Western feel to the film…which, as Mr. Eberhardt has noted, somehow fits Arkansas and the drug trade very well indeed.