User reviews

First of, Gold is better than its IMDb rating and meta-score. I feel this movie is a victim of the studio going wild with a pair of scissors, trying to make it short(er) (even at 2 hours) to please the mainstream audience, but while doing that, this movie loses a lot of substance. Character development is lacking, apart from our protagonist, so it doesn't really feel like we get to know them. One moment we have a new (seemingly an important) character, and then he or she will either disappear or roam in the background. I guess that happens when you start cutting. I suspect there's a great version of this movie out there, and I'd rather watch a 3 hour version with everything included, than this. The movie also takes place in the late 80's(?) or early 90's, but I don't feel like time was important here, which makes things a little confusing. I have no idea if they've been at something for a week, a month, or five years.

The whole movie also feels a little rushed in the sense that it tries to get to the end as quickly as possible. It lacks the details; Slow down a little, speak to us, breathe. I want to know more, I want to see more, but it ends up being a National Geographic article instead of a book.

It's far from bad though, and it's an enjoyable watch. Just don't go in expecting a masterpiece.

I don't know why this movie has been underrated so much. It deserves at least 8. If you liked Blow, or Wolf of Wall Street... this is just as good! Maybe not so deep story, but still, amazing Matthew does what he's supposed to.

Don't follow the ratings and check this out!

I actually thought this was a pretty good movie, despite the relatively low ratings. Both McConaughey and Ramírez played very well, also good to see Stoll in this movie. The story was entertaining, never a dull moment (unlike Moonlight, sorry, but that was really boring and I believed the rave reviews...). Anyway, it was worth seeing it!

Essentially, 'Gold' is an old fashioned adventure movie. A hostile environment, changing fortunes, shifting alliances, unexpected adversaries, a seemingly betrayed friendship: it's all there. But the setting is out of the ordinary: it's the financial world with millions of dollars pumped into promising mining stocks. But those millions can just as quickly be withdrawn when the prospects change.

The adventurer in the midst of it all is Kenny Wells, son of a Nevada gold prospector and heir to an almost bankrupt mining company. In an all-or-nothing attempt, he travels to Indonesia for a meeting with a legendary drilling expert. The next step is to find the money required for the drilling. What follows, is a roller-coaster ride of successes and setbacks.

Matthew McConaughey is amazing as Kenny Wells, a raving maniac with a fearless can-do mentality and a complete lack of respect for Wall Street hotshots or mining moguls. This is one of his best roles ever, and it's worth an Oscar. You can see the doubt in the eyes of everyone he meets: is this a madman who doesn't know what he's up to, or a go-getter who doesn't give up until he reaches his goal? Wells is both, and McConaughey makes his complex character completely believable.

There are some extra layers in the story underlining this complexity: the relationship with his wife Kay, and the friendship with his business partner Mike Acosta. The latter is responsible for the spectacular ending of the story, with a really nice surprise in the last seconds.

The whole story is based on the Bre-X scandal, which hit the worldwide headlines in the nineties. Some details are changed, but on the whole the story follows the real events pretty accurate. The scandal was a prime example of excessive capitalist greed, and the film is a nice reminder of it.

Inspired by the Bre-X scandal, it's 1988 Reno. Hard drinking Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey) and girlfriend Kay (Bryce Dallas Howard) are struggling. He's a lifelong wildcat prospector working for his respected father until his sudden death. With nothing left in business, he goes to Indonesia and connects with geologist Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) who has a revolutionary theory. They head into the jungle and become gold mining legends.

I do remember Bre-X. Some of it came back to me along with the movie. I remember one of the reporters telling the story of a souvenir core sample. They handed out samples to reporters and investors. As the scandal broke, they went back to test those samples. I think there is a missing character. It needs an investigative reporter who uncovers the scandal. Kenny and Kay's breakup seems abrupt. The second half seems a bit rushed although the two hour running time probably forced some cutting. McConaughey may be trying too hard shooting for an award. There is a compelling character story here if not fully realized as a thriller.

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

I am shocked at the low IMDb score for this movie as I enjoyed every aspect of it... the acting, directing, cinematography etc 'except' for the editing (sound and cutting room).

The problem started with the very choppy scene changes and the cut- short dialogue. There were too many back and forth timeline changes and they were very poorly transitioned.

What I really question is how the synopsis has much more information than what was in the film. Did that viewer see a different extended version of the movie I just watched? Don't get me wrong, it really filled in a lot of gaps that otherwise wouldn't have been filled in for me to truly understand certain parts and fully enjoy the movie. Every 30 min or so I'd go catch up on the synopsis before continuing the movie and it really did help.

I also had a very difficult time understanding the dialogue as it was either too low or too muffled (or Matthew was whispering too low).

So although I really did enjoy this movie, I felt a lot of key parts ended up on the cutting room floor that thankfully the synopsis filled in, and the sound (dialogue) needed some tweaking to be more understandable.

7.5/10 rounded up to 8 for the current undeserving low score.

I don't have much to say about the movie as I think a 10 probably says it all. Firstly I'll just say this about Matthew McConaughey...He is an amazing actor..full stop. I would even go further to say, probably one of the best actors of this generation. If this movie was put forward in this year's Oscar's, portraying Gold prospector Kenny Wells, I have no doubt Matthew would have won best actor, hands down! The movie itself was fantastically shot with amazing props and costumes representing the 80's era perfectly. Something else that caught my ears was the amazing soundtrack. Not the normal songs you would hear from an 80's era movie, by a very alternative soundtrack. Artists like Iggy Pop, Joy Division and The Pixies, just to name a few. The movie itself..watching it I had this feeling of gunning for the underdog in the big world of stocks and commodities, however the film never really delved deep into the impact of what these companies have on the smaller communities, which is obviously a deliberate path...definitely worth a watch and if you had any doubt of McConaugheys acting...just watch this.

Gold is, by far, the oddest film of the Oscar season. It's not good enough to be featured with some other award-based films yet it is far from being a bad film. It's just a very uninspired piece of filmmaking that had an excellent script and a great cast to it, yet no flavor to the filmmaking here. It is a standardized piece that serves as a lackluster love letter to Martin Scorsese and David O. Russell without ever really admitting it. Majority of this film is spent watching McCounaughey's Kenny Wells as he maneuvers through businessmen that want him to be put down, political groups that want to steal his fortune and friends he can barely trust. It sounds like an amazing film and it could have been had Gaghan not directed this film himself. Every frame that passes, it feels like Gaghan was either worried about feeling too much like Scorsese or worried that it wasn't enough like Scorsese. Either way, we know where his influences lie here. Honestly, you're better off watching The Wolf of Wall Street, if you're hoping for something like that.

Stephen Gaghan is a very talented writer, he's given us very layered stories with very interesting characters but this particular topic feels like it went over his head. It is never engaging enough to sustain lasting power. McConaughey and the rest of the cast do a fine job, nothing outstanding but fine nonetheless. This was probably the most disappointing part of this film. Over the past 5 years, Matthew McConaughey has given us more than enough reason to love his performances. They're layered, they're relate-able and, most of all, they're acted to perfection. This performance, in which he trades in his slim physique for a bloated, overweight and balding man. Right off the bat, this may have been a physically demanding role for McConaughey and he does put his all into his performance but it still doesn't match the caliber of his previous performances. His dedication is clear but it still didn't feel like the great performance we thought he could give in this film which comes back to the issue of Gaghan's direction.

Overall, Gold is far from a bad movie. There are cool scenes in it that are bound to interest you even if it's for a little bit. But this is a film that comes down to a problem with the director. Gaghan, while being a very talented writer, has a hard time determining his own vision for a film that had many chances to be great but failed to really capitalize on any of its strengths. By the end of the film, you won't feel cheated out of your ticket money but I'm sure you won't feel all that good about it either.

A cute, if too long movie that had me reaching for Wikipedia to check the truth.

McConaughey, Ramirez and Howard are all excellent.

A solid watch.

Longing for the American dream should never be inextricable from the determination of an individual. Dreaming about achieving a goal should go hand in hand with proactively doing it. Without veering off on a transcendentalist tangent, let me introduce Kenny Wells. Wells is a pot-bellied, greased up chain smoking alcoholic, perhaps uncomfortably seen as the heir to the throne of the Washoe Mining Company based in 'the biggest little city in the world' and where Johnny Cash sang of a prisoner shooting a man, 'just to watch him die'. The one and only, Reno, Nevada. So maybe I haven't painted Wells in such a great light so far. He certainly isn't the godchild of Emerson, but that's what director Stephen Gaghan appears to try and convey. This is Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey as you've never witnessed before, presented in a way that's far from an idealised sharp-suited image of the American dreamer and stoically opposed to Ron Woodward's skeletal frame in his winning performance in 2013's 'Dallas Buyers Club'. However, he's the film's gleaming treasure in a somewhat clichéd quest for glory, even if the main aesthetic shine is only from his forehead in an Indonesian jungle.

'Gold' is loosely based upon the Bre-X mining scandal of 1993 with Gaghan confusingly transporting us straight back to the 1980s to a world of questionable suits, post-punk, Iggy Pop and the romantic aspirations of Wells. His journey is somewhat instigated by the death of his father, luring him further into the volatile and unpredictable world of gold mining, conducting the train through its successes and abrupt halts. From the smoky testosterone filled bars of Reno to the sweat inducing tropics of Borneo, we realise how integral McConaughey's performance is to the success and believability of the narrative. Although somewhat charismatic through his wittiness and general naivety to the overall project, Kenny Wells is a man who is out to make money. Wells' sidekick, geologist Michael Acosta (Edgar Ramirez), is bestowed with elements of morality and spirituality, clearly seen in his proactive interaction with the Indonesian people. So therefore, Wells' financial determination combined with Acosta's endearing qualities and intelligence make the relationship such a strong focal point of the film. The strength of the characters makes the adventure seem almost tangible, yet still questionable.

Looking at McConaughey's transformation, you may just begin to question how Kaylene (Bryce Dallas-Howard) has fallen for such a downtrodden hopeless wanderer. However it's her innocent undying belief in him that makes Wells' decline even more forceful. There is an essence of the childhood sweetheart in her demeanour, the archetypal support mechanism to Kenny's weaknesses. Yes, she rides on the wave of success to its highest heights with Wells, lavishing herself in material riches but in a way, she is the moral spine of the film, never losing sight of the real Kenny Wells she's grown up loving. Kaylene acts just as much as the voice of reason as Michael Acosta and it is the combination of powerful relationships that we will really take away from the screen. The dizzying heights of financial success ultimately lead to a strenuous, yet somewhat predictable breakdown between Kenny and Kaylene and we can't help but feel like she is completely unworthy of any of it. Whiskey plus money plus the inability to maintain your dignity…. Well you know the rest. That's not saying Kenny Wells is a vile person, despite his, for want of a better term, shabby look. We're willing everything to work out for both of them, yet the American dream just becomes too much to handle.

McConaughey's character compared to the regimental sharp suited Wall Street bankers is a deliberate contrast by Gaghan. Our willingness for the sugar coated American dream to work out is pitted against the cold-hearted capitalist intentions of Brian (Corey Stoll). Wells' resilience to counteract an offer made by Stoll and his legion of top button fastened, tight tied troubadours, can only be admired. The ambition to fight against globalisation, to hold onto your dreams, to recapture lost determination and to let nothing stand in your way in fighting for what you want, is made believable through McConaughey's stellar performance. However, in what should be an adventure full of undying speed to keep up with the lustful desire for success, the film's narrative is too slow to match the pace of Wells' dreams. McConaughey is the glitter in a film without much gold.

'Gold' has very uneven tone about it. There are periods that are bordering on cringe-worthy, some dialogue that is bland and uninspired, and some pretentious moments where the film acts as if it's Best Picture worthy at the Academy Awards. Conversely, there are some very good scenes at times, and an ending that certainly gives the film a lot more weight. There were two writers for this film and it almost feels like one would write one scene while the other would write another section of the movie altogether, both with varying degrees of quality.

This was an interesting role for Matthew McConaughey. We know he's tried to achieve a make-over of his career, and has done a very good job of it. Gone are the days where he was simply showing up to be the charming guy in a lifeless script and collect a paycheck. Still here, I didn't think he was quite at his best. To be fair some of the dialogue he had to deliver was pretty terribly written and would have been difficult for anyone to pull off. Even still, his performance just felt a little off to me.

It's hard to judge an inconsistent film. Overall I'd say it leans more towards being a badly made film than a good one. There was a story to be told here (it's based on a true story), but I just think the way they structured it left a little to be desired. An enjoyable and clever ending does boost it up a bit in quality, but it's still not enough to entirely save it.

Story based on true events, that alone makes it more interesting to watch for me. Add on that that my wife is from Reno, Nevada and that she knows a couple of Wells families from when she was young and you get a movie that will get my attention. But that's not a guarantee it will be a good movie. But it was, with strong acting from Matthew McConaughey as Kenny Wells the main character in Gold. Sometimes it gets a bit complicated with all those bank terms but you get the point even if you are like me not interested at all in that kind of business. The story has a couple huge twists that you don't see coming and that's a good thing. If half of this story is true I can imagine the devastation it will have made in some families at that time. Good acting with a solid story, certainly worth a watch.

What got me about this flick, was the whole risk element. When your at your very lowest, with nothing left to lose, then risking everything, isn't too difficult. Matthew McConaughey is brilliant as he always is. The mystery of his ability is different from other actors. He looks, talks and seems very much the same in all his roles, yet somehow makes you believe he is that person. Bryce Howard also gives a good performance. Her physical appearance is trans-formative, and you clearly would never recognize her. This movie combined the elements of a treasure hunt, and the allure and adventure of the find, with a corporate thriller. Realism, however, prevents me from going higher. I'm already stretching it with rating it an 8. The strange ups and downs that happened, along with the not so surprise of an ending, is the stretch that leaves it at the 8 point. Nonetheless, its highly entertaining, and I recommend it just as highly.

I viewed this movie last evening and found it moderately entertaining. The title grabbed my attention. The first half of this movie had me wondering if I had made a bad choice, but as the movie went on I was drawn into it and satisfied at the end. I think that McConaghy was way over the top and had a negative effect on the movie as a whole. I always want to "like" a character but this guy was so unlikable that it hurt the film. And at the beginning of each scene it always had the same start, the lighting up of a cigarette another thing that that was just too noticeable. I think that this should have been a better film, but it was not a waste of my time!

If you don't already know the story retold in "Gold", do not research this film before you watch it, and don't read any "spoiler" reviews.

You will find it a far more rewarding journey as you get sucked in to the surreal world of prospecting portrayed in this masterpiece.

Whilst gold is but one of many precious metals prospected for down the ages, it just seems to hold a special place in our hearts, and this film is a perfect illustration of that.

Many modern-day politicians and economists would have us believe that gold is not a currency and is of limited value to us. Look no further than this movie for compelling evidence to the contrary. That the mere potential for discovering a rich seam of the yellow metal beneath our feet has us all a quiver.

There are many different angles from which one could review this film, most of which can't be explored in a review that implores you to watch it unburdened by any prior knowledge of the subject matter.

However, the main angle for me is one that is easily shared either pre or post watching this great movie. It is that gold definitely is a currency in its own right, and always will be, no matter how much the politicians and economists tell us otherwise.

'GOLD': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A crime-drama-adventure about a desperate businessman, who teams with a geologist to find gold in the jungles of Indonesia. It's based on a true story, from 1993. The film was directed by Stephen Gaghan (who also helmed 2005's 'SYRIANA'), and it was written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman (two veteran TV writers). The movie stars Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramirez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Stacy Keach, Bruce Greenwood and Toby Kebbell. It's received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it's also been a disappointment at the Box Office. I found it to be slightly amusing, but it's also slightly a bore.

Kenny Wells (McConaughey) was an unlucky businessman, who always dreamed of finding gold. He tracked down a geologist, by the name of Michael Acosta (Ramirez), and talked him into going into business with him. The two then traveled deep into the jungles of Borneo, to look for gold together. They're adventure became a huge story in 1993.

The movie starts out interesting, and it ends interesting as well. It's not always involving, or entertaining, in-between though. The performances are all decent, especially McConaughey (who always gives 110 percent), and it's always nice to look at also. I definitely wouldn't say it's a waste of time, or anything like that, but it's also nothing special either. It's not as bad as the bad reviews make it out to be though.

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The synopsis of this film couldn't be more misleading. This is NOT 'a journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia', like the synopsis suggests. It's more like an office drama set in the big city, with only sporadic scenes of actual gold hunting. It has completely the wrong focus and is told in a way that the viewer can't help but feel detached from everything that's happening on screen.

Part of the problem is that this film is supposed to be based on a true story, yet the whole thing feels like pretentious Hollywood crap. It's dull and emotionless. The entertainment in this film is restricted to only a few scenes, while the rest of the film is just extended scenes of dialogue, which the audience couldn't care less about.

Speaking of the dialogue, a lot of scenes at the start of 'Gold' are mumbled and difficult to understand, which only added to my dissatisfaction.