Gold tells a surprisingly interesting (inspired by a true) story that's got more twists than a pretzel. The direction loses steam in the third act, but whether you like or dislike this movie probably depends on how much you like or dislike Matthew McConaughey. I happen to be in the like camp. *B*

The story of a hard-living Reno prospector saved from financial calamity by the unexpected discovery of gold in an Indonesian jungle, the simply titled Gold is an energetic and often stylish film without a center, without enough soul. It is a contemporary treasure-hunt film which transforms into American Hustle or The Wolf of Wall Street lite, but neither pole is particularly well-developed; as a story of financial chicanery in the mining industry, it is undermined by the decision to include an enormous twist in the third act, requiring a significant amount of coy obfuscation and outright misdirection during the first hour and a half. Behind the camera, Stephen Gaghan is game, but misguided. He tries, broadly, to play Martin Scorsese, madly winding his camera through ballrooms and boardrooms and destroyed hotel rooms as 1980s pop music roars, when it would be more novel and intriguing if he explored minerals and mining the way he did the petroleum industry in the excellent Syriana (or illegal narcotics in his award-winning screenplay for Traffic): from diverse perspectives and with a stately, journalism-meets-John le Carré tone.

In the lead role, Matthew McConaughey is clearly committed, ravenous even, as he dials down any movie-star glamor—the underpants! the sweat! the erosive receding hairline! the paunch!—and savors every piece of egotistical, rapid-fire, this-is-a-curdled-metaphor-for-the-American-Dream dialogue. It is a high-wire, maximum-volume piece of acting, at once riveting and arguably pushed too far to the fore (at the expense of the other characters and even the story itself). Worthy of at least modest praise are Bryce Dallas Howard, infusing a rather archetypal concerned-love-interest role with sensitivity and sensuality, and the smoldering Édgar Ramírez as a character perhaps more worthy of being the protagonist, an almost mythic British-Venezuelan geologist with an adventurer's spirit and a complicated master plan.

C+

Eh it was ok, but very forgettable. You can tell Matthew McConaughey is really dedicated to the role and while he does a fine job with his character it's Scorsese lite at best.

Gold

Stephen Gaghan's third film could not evoke the narrated empire-building mercantilism of similarly themed films. McConaughey, dedicated as ever, shoots for an Academy Award-worthy performance, but is put in the unfortunate position of having to carry the project over the finish line on his lonesome - Édgar Ramírez, the film's second-billed star, is lifeless and beige. It was a watchable film, but Gold does not have the pizzazz or flare needed for an 80s American dream biopic. Gaghan should spend more time studying Blow or Goodfellas.

B

I enjoyed it a lot, though it's not the type of amazing biopic, like a Wolf of Wall Street of something I thought it was pretty good still. McConaughey is totally committed and Ramírez is strong as well. Even though it might just go through the regular motions, the sweaty jungle and 80's vibe pop of the screen and I had very good time with it.

B+

McConaghey is committed to the performance and there are some great characters but the movie felt a bit rushed and slow at the same time. McC is good but I didn't find him particularly engrossing, BDH is good as the emotional core and Ramírez delivers a strong supporting character. For a movie so focused on its main character it fails to make his sympathetic because it never takes time to invest in the dream it wants to follow throughout. I didn't love the jungle bits and the final act with Ramirez's deception are handled nicely but the movie feels too shallow before that.

C+