Gold

For generations, the family of Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey) has made money exploiting mineral resources. When Kenny takes over the Washoe Mining Corporation, founded by his grandfather, from his father, he faces a rosy future of wealth. But it doesn't come to that. After seven years, the offices are gone, the money depleted, and Kenny tries to keep his head above water with shady deals. When geologist Michael Acosta (Edgar Ramirez) suspects a large gold deposit in the depths of the jungle of Indonesia, Kenny senses the chance for his big comeback. After bitter setbacks, the two men actually find gold, sending the stock market into a tizzy. Suddenly, the name Washoe Mining Corporation means something again and Kenny and Michael are flush with cash. But their luck is not to last.

Inspired by a scandal involving the Canadian exploration company Bre-X in the 1990s, director Stephen Gaghan and screenwriters Patrick Massett and John Zinman have spun a tale of the fine line between greed and insanity, laced with satirical elements. The plot was set in the 1980s USA and a fictional protagonist was created in the form of Kenny Wells. Thus Gold weaves fact and fiction into an entertaining economic thriller that is first and foremost one thing: a vehicle for Matthew McConaughey. With great courage to be ugly, the Oscar winner delivers another really good performance here. He makes Kenny a tragicomic character who is allowed to reveal some very interesting facets as the story unfolds.

McConaughey's acting and that of his co-stars, particularly Edgar Ramirez and Bryce Dallas Howard, is then what consoles over the weaknesses of the somewhat unbalanced production. Gaghan often remains too hesitant and thus can't create a similar strong pull as Martin Scorsese did with The Wolf of Wall Street - even if you can only compare these two films superficially. The story, as interesting as it may be at its core, often just bumbles along without offering any real dramaturgical climaxes. When these come, the whole thing works really well, is extremely involving and entertaining. But there are just too many plodding moments and nice, but somehow also irrelevant lengths that get in the way of an all-around positive overall impression.

No question, Gold is a good movie overall. The convincing 80s look, the sometimes pleasantly biting humor and the very good actors alone are enough to be able to attest the film a worth seeing. Also the reference to the current economic situation makes the story very interesting - especially since it isn't pure fiction. But besides the many positive aspects there are also the aforementioned points of criticism, which is why the worth seeing must be preceded by a few restrictions. But if you want to see McConaughhey with a bald head and a nasty face, you can't miss this movie!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp