Gold (2016) // Movie Review

So, I finally got around to watching Gold from 2016, you know, the one directed by Stephen Gaghan. It's a film that definitely tries to hit it big, drawing its inspiration from that bonkers Bre-X mining scandal from the '90s. It's pretty ambitious, I'll give it that, especially with Matthew McConaughey absolutely transforming himself to play Kenny Wells, this prospector who's seen better days but still has this wild glint in his eye, just sure he's gonna strike it rich.

The Story: Dreams That Just Won't Quit (Even When They Should)

The movie takes us right into the world of Kenny Wells, and let me tell you, it's a messy, desperate place. His family used to be a big deal in mining, but now? He's pretty much at rock bottom. But even then, he's got this absolutely wild vision – he's convinced there's gold in Indonesia, and he holds onto that belief with every fiber of his being. So, he teams up with this really quirky geologist, Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez), and off they go, convinced they're about to unearth the biggest gold strike in history, way out in the Indonesian jungle. It's almost crazy enough to work, right?

Initially, "Gold" has this fantastic, almost feverish energy. McConaughey, with his super noticeable receding hairline and that extra weight, just becomes Kenny. He's always sweating, practically chained to a cigarette, constantly hustling, and utterly convinced his fortune is just around the corner. Those early scenes are spot on, capturing his endless optimism and even a sort of scrappy underdog charm that makes you genuinely want him to win. You see him pouring his very last kobo into this seemingly impossible venture, dragging his incredibly patient girlfriend, Kay (Bryce Dallas Howard), along for the ride. Bless her heart.

And then, when they supposedly hit gold? Boom! The movie just explodes. Suddenly, Kenny and Acosta are living the high life, rubbing shoulders with the big shots on Wall Street, splurging on all the fancy stuff that comes with overnight wealth. It's a classic rags-to-riches story, complete with all the excess and some truly questionable decisions, just like you see in other movies about financial booms and busts.

What I Liked (And What Didn't Quite Shine)

Alright, let's be real, one of the main reasons to check out Gold is definitely Matthew McConaughey's performance. He's just so committed, giving this raw portrayal of Kenny Wells. He completely nails that desperate hope, and then later, the arrogant swagger of a guy who genuinely believes he's got the Midas touch. Édgar Ramírez is great too as Acosta; he's got this quiet, mysterious vibe that keeps you guessing about his real motives. And Bryce Dallas Howard, as Kenny's girlfriend, does a solid job with her role – she's often the grounded one, the voice of reason when things start getting wild.

But, yeah, "Gold" isn't perfect; it's got some noticeable flaws. The real-life Bre-X scandal was a seriously tangled mess of fraud and ambition, but the movie sometimes struggles with its narrative focus and keeping a consistent tone.

Another problem I had with the film is the choice of perspective. By focusing so much on Kenny Wells, who's essentially being duped for a good chunk of the movie, it arguably misses out on what could have been a much more compelling angle – the perspective of the actual person pulling off the fraud. This creative decision kills the suspense, mostly because if you already know how the real story ends, you're pretty much always a step ahead of the main character. So, that big twist might not hit you as hard as the filmmakers probably hoped.

In Summary...

Gold is a movie with a truly captivating true story at its core and a genuinely dedicated performance from Matthew McConaughey. It really captures that intoxicating pull of easy money and how ambition can just go off the rails and destroy everything. But, honestly, its struggles with how the story's told and a slightly hazy perspective keep it from really shining like, well, gold. Thanks for reading and see you next time.

Images from: IMDb