Review of Gold (2016) by Eilidh2 — 27 Jan 2017

Reading some of the reviews on here, I've come to the conclusion many film critics' knowledge of life - or finance - only comes from watching other movies. This movie has NOTHING in common with Wolf of Wall Street or The Big Short. Maybe Treasure of the Sierra Madre?

It's about mining and a notorious mining scandal. Maybe critics lost their bearings because there haven't been enough mining films?

I liked the film very much. My husband loved it. It's really a 'guy movie' and as such, will appeal more to a male audience. It's also an incredibly complicated film that delves into a very convoluted story (which actually happened). So checking your emails while watching or trying to live tweet the film would be a mistake. You'll lose the plot and never catch up again.

McConaughey and Ramirez work beautifully together, creating a believable bromance where two guys down on their luck join forces to "prove 'em all wrong". McConaughey's desperate and obnoxious huckster/prospector and Ramirez's enigmatic, elegant, legendary geologist make intriguing protagonists. And Bryce Dallas Howard brings a great, earthy charm to a woman who loves not wisely, but too well. McConaughey never tries to gain the audience's sympathy, no winks at the audience to signal "I'm a nice guy movie star, not this jerk" which takes a lot of brash honesty.

The movie's "punchline" is an absolute killer and well worth the trip to get there.