Gold (2017)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  6 / 10

  Gold occasionally glitters but is weighted by the dullness of mud. An overused and tired formula, oh you know the one: "main character starts with nothing, soon earns everything and then loses it all". An extremely saturated trope where any new additions really need to standout. Unfortunately for Gold, it was too safe and uninteresting. Kenny Wells desires to become a prospector and run his own mining company, to which he sets off out to Indonesia to strike gold (quite literally...). All seems to be going well until major companies want a piece of the action where Kenny may gain even more money or lose it all. It's not often a biopic makes me feel conflicted, it's actually a genre I really appreciate and enjoy. An intriguing scandal brought to the big screen with safe directing, safe dialogue and a safe supporting cast. Everything about this felt safe, and ultimately that is its downfall. It becomes uninteresting, dull and actually rather ugly. Matthew McConaughey gives a committed performance and probably one of his better roles, just behind 'Dallas Buyers Club'. I'm still not a huge fan, but his method style of acting is unquestionably devoted. Edgar Ramirez certainly looked the part, same goes to Corey Stoll. But the supporting cast were wasted. Bland, uncharismatic and simply just a vehicle to boost McConaughey's performance. The jungles of Indonesia looked lavish and luscious. The third act alone saved this from being a mediocre borefest. It just hooked me immediately and I couldn't take my eyes off. A shame that the rest of the film couldn't maintain that sense of tension and grip. The story was just ugly. The greed of man, constantly revolving around money, business and stock. Unlikeable. Gold is just fine, I wasn't bored yet I wasn't entertained either. McConaughey and the third act just about push this to be classed as "good". Wouldn't watch it again in a hurry...

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