Gold (2016)

Kenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on a journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia.

Director:

Stephen Gaghan

Writers:

Patrick Massett, John Zinman

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew McConaughey	...	Kenny Wells
Edgar Ramírez	...	Michael Acosta (as Édgar Ramírez)
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Kay
Corey Stoll	...	Brian Woolf
Toby Kebbell	...	Paul Jennings
Bill Camp	...	Hollis Drescher
Joshua Harto	...	Lloyd Stanton
Timothy Simons	...	Jeff Jackson
Craig T. Nelson	...	Kenny Wells Sr.
Macon Blair	...	Connie Wright
Adam LeFevre	...	Bobby Burns
Frank Wood	...	Scottie Nevins
Michael Landes	...	Glen Binkert
Bhavesh Patel	...	Bobby Owens
Rachael Taylor	...	Rachel Hill

Storyline

With the sudden death of his father, fourth-generation prospector Kenny Wells sees the family business, Washoe Mining, rapidly decline and him out of business. But ambitious Kenny has a dream, a vivid vision that promises mountains of brilliant and pure gold in the lush jungles of remote Indonesia; an aspiration which the well-known, yet still unlucky geologist Michael Acosta shares. Before long, down-on-his-luck Kenny will convince the eager geologist to become his partner and set off on an adventure deep into uncharted territory, while in the meantime, he would hunt for investors. Unfortunately though, as the risky expedition begins without a single speck of gold or the promise of it on the horizon, disease and failure will begin to threaten the short-lived dream. However, is it indeed an intriguingly bold and reckless fantasy?

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Plot Keywords:

indonesia | gold | 1980s | reno nevada | time jump | 

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Taglines:

It was never about the money.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Indonesian

Release Date:

27 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zlato

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,471,316, 27 January 2017, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$7,222,964, 3 March 2017

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,227,038, 21 April 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Black Bear Pictures, Boies / Schiller Film Group, Hwy61

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Gold" is based on the Bre-X scandal. Bre-X was a Canadian company. The bar where Wells and his company hang out is called "The Three Greenhorns." This is the name of a real restaurant (not bar) in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (The Three Greenhorns were, famously, three of the earliest homesteaders in Vancouver.) Although the company has been moved to Nevada, for some reason the writers kept the name of the restaurant.

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Goofs

There is no hotel named Jakarta Palace in Jakarta; the river that is clearly seen from the lobby where Kenny first meets Acosta doesn't exist, it's most likely the Chaopraya river in Bangkok. Similarly the scene of the meeting with "Danny" Soeharto also happens in an impossible location for Jakarta, but very likely shot in Bangkok.

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Quotes

Kenny Wells: God, we work hard in this business. Sometimes for nothing. I wake up every morning. I tell myself, "I don't have to do this. I get to do this." And then it's just blue skies. Blue skies, baby.

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Connections

Referenced in Good Morning Britain: Episode dated 7 November 2016 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Tommy's Supper Club
Written by Richard J. Freitas (as Richard Freitas) and Gerri Brioso
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

Another notable McConaughey turn can't save this drama

A few years ago a performance like the one Matthew McConaughey delivers here in Stephen Gaghan's based on a true tale Gold would've created quite a stir.

It's a credit to the actor, who resurrected his career from the doldrums of so-so romcoms, Surfer Dudes and other forgettable affairs to all of a sudden become an Oscar winning and HBO headlining legend but with that career revival has come an expectation that McConaughey going method and fully inhabiting his characters is the normal and therefore less of an event that it was, a mere few years ago.

No more so evident than in the fact Gold came and disappeared with very little fanfare in the awards season rush at the end of 2016, McConaughey chewing up the scenery wasn't enough to draw people into the cinemas, as the beer bellied, hair thinning and sweaty thespian found himself being the best thing about a so-so film that never feels completely assured of itself.

Telling the rather complex story of struggling 1980's American prospector/mining magnate Kenny Wells, who found fame and wealth by teaming up with prospecting master Michael Acosta in the jungles of Indonesia, Syriana director and Traffic screenwriter Stephen Gaghan never pieces together the many various elements of Well's story into a satisfactory whole as events come and go and Well's journey takes its twists and turns.

As is with any film in the vein of Gold, it's always a fine balance for a filmmaker to strike the perfect line between pandering to an audience or keeping them in the dark and unfortunately for Gold there ends up being too many times where we're left in the lurch a little by the plights affecting Well's while some scenes in the film that feel hugely important to the whole scheme of things, often feel underutilised or passed over which leaves the trials and adversities of this American mogul emotionally unengaging.

What can't be denied in the film however is the aforementioned work of McConaughey, who's a joy to watch as Wells, the car crash waiting to happen.

In a loaded cast that includes an underused Bryce Dallas Howard as Well's long-suffering girlfriend Kay, Edgar Ramirez as Acosta, Corey Stoll as Wall Street player Brian Woolf and Toby (needs a new agent) Kebbell as FBI investigator Paul Jennings, McConaughey stands head and shoulders above the rest and while its far from his best turn over recent years, it's a quality actor that can deliver such above average performances on cue, as McConaughey does here.

Sometimes clad in nothing more than some worn-out white underpants or looking dishevelled beyond belief, McConaughey's turn as Well's deserves a better film and showcases what might've been for Gold had it managed to match the chaotic nature of its main character and the commitment of its on form leading man.

Final say –

Digging up another memorable McConaughey turn, Gold doesn't strike it rich due to tonal issues and a lack of emotional engagement but Gaghan's slightly disappointing film is still an often intriguing true story made all the better by the work of its leading man.

3 pot bellies out of 5