Film Review: Matthew McConaughey is All That Glitters in ‘Gold’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 27, 2017 - 11:24am

CHICAGO – The relish that Matthew McConaughey displays in creating his latest character in “Gold,” a Willy Loman-type mining exec who is looking for his biggest score, is most of the reason to experience the film. However, there isn’t exactly a motherlode when it comes to the story.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

In a sort-of “Treasure of Sierra Madre” meets “Wall Street,” the scenario of “Gold” is an insider’s (and based on a true) tale of a large gold strike in Indonesia, which mostly benefits the financiers far away in New York City. McConaughey’s character is like the go-between, as he fights for his (and his partner’s) well-earned prospecting rights to the mine. And like his physical transformation in “Dallas Buyers Club,” McConaughey alters his look – this time into an overweight and balding hustler. He carries the film on his back like an overworked mule, but like that animal can’t maintain any consistent pace when the journey is incomplete and full of holes. There isn’t any gold standard in “Gold.”

Kenny Wells (McConaughey) is running his father’s successful mining company into the ground. He is literally sweating his next move, and actually steals back a necklace from his girlfriend Kay (Bryce Dallas Howard) to raise enough money to finance his latest venture…a possible gold strike in Indonesia, facilitated by a master prospector, Acosta (Edgar Ramirez).

The partners start the meticulous process of trying to find the precious metal in rough territory, and despite setbacks and malaria, strike gold. This starts the interest from financiers in New York City, represented by Brian Wolff (Corey Stoll), and causes Kenny to be wary of both their motivations and the rights to the mine, and it becomes a power struggle. 

”Gold” opens everywhere on January 27th. Featuring Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp and Craig T. Nelson. Written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. Directed by Stephan Gaghan. Rated “R”