The McConaissance continues to flourish, as star Matthew McConaughey has had a slew of fantastic performances over the past few years. From winning an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club to starring in the Christopher Nolan film Interstellar, McConaughey’s career has taken an impressive 180 from being the star of romantic comedies.
McConaughey continues to stretch himself as an actor with Gold, as he turns in his handsome persona to play a fat, washed-up man. The film follows Kenny Wells, who teams up with a eager geologist to search for gold. Their search, as well as the result of it, leads to more trouble than they bargained for.
Gold may have been buried by a slew of other Oscar contenders, but its a film that proves to have its own merit. Even through some severe problems, McConaughey carries this film on his shoulders with another fantastic performance.
This quietly ranks among one of 2016’s finest performances, with McConaughey’s truly disappearing into the role. Its not just a simple psychical transformation, but McConaughey makes Kenny feel like a fully-developed character. We see a man so hungry for success, but who finds himself trying to grasp with just how much everything is over his head. He is a pathetic character, but one audiences can’t help but to root for.
Surrounding McConaughey is an equally talented cast. Edgar Ramirez gives one of his best performances the geologist Michael, with his bond with Kenny ultimately being the heart and soul of the film. Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, and Toby Kebell also gives solid performances.
Unlike most movies based on a true story, Gold is fairly unpredictable. The film takes a surprising turn halfway through that really changes the film, and I would say that was for the better. There are quite a few interesting twists and turns this narrative takes that continue to make it engaging.
Gold however can’t match its interesting story with unique style. Director Stephen Gaghan directs the film with a lot of energy and solid music choices, but his efforts feel derivative of David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese. This makes Gold feel lesser in comparison to other biopic films.
While the second act is commendable for its twist on the genre, the first half plays out in the most cliche way possible. One could almost time their watch to when key biopic moments happen. I understand its based on a true story, but these events could have been captured in a more original way.
Gold sadly never reaches the heights of its star performance or interesting story, but is solid enough to make for an unevenly entertaining adventure.