In the opening scenes of Gold, we witness the comfortable existence of Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey), working at his father’s modest mineral exploration company and ensconced in a happy relationship with Kay (Bryce Dallas Howard). Then the recession of the 80’s hits and commodities take a nose dive.
Wells and his colleagues are now using the local bar as an office, literally begging and borrowing to get by. Their luck turns when Wells sets off on a whim to the deep jungles of Indonesia to reconnect with Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez), a geologist he recalls was convinced of the country’s untapped potential. Upon their discovery of gold, the two men become almost overnight millionaires, but as expected, their journey is far from smooth sailing.
Like Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club, McConaughey invests everything into his character, emotionally and physically, to give a compelling performance. Wells (a fictitious character based on David Walsh from the Bre-X scandal), often appears quite unlikeable, but you can’t say his life was mediocre, which certainly makes for an interesting film. (ASim)
★★★1/2
BY ALICIA SIM
