Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror
Films, 2019
Images from the Internet
Goldstone
Writer, director, editor, director of photography, composer: Ivan Sen
Lightyear Entertainment / Screen Australia / Archlight Films / MVD Entertainment
110 minutes, 2016 / 2018
www.lightyear.com
www.mvdb2b.com
There are a lot of powerful Aussie actors who make their presence felt
here (big country, but small film industry). The two leads are Goldstone
Sherriff and lone law enforcer, Josh (Alex Russell) and aboriginal federal
agent with a sad past and a problem with the bottle, Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen).
character was resurrected from a 2016 film that was a hit in Australia, Mystery Road, and would reappear in the
2018 mini-series, also called “Mystery Road.”
Running the whole evil gold company is Johnny (David Whenham, who played
Faramir in The Lord of the Rings
films), and his accomplice and lover, Maureen, who is the Mayor (Jacki Weaver,
of Bird Box and Silver Lining Playbook fame). Their malevolence is felt before it’s
identified to the viewer. In an extended cameo-yet-pivotal role we meet elder Jimmy
(David Gulpilili, of releases like Walkabout,
Crocodile Dundee, and Rabbit Proof
Fence). Bringing in the gravy further is a dispassionate madam, Ms. Lao
(Pei-Pei Cheng, from Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon) and the female lead and possible love interest, May (the
highly attractive and tall Michelle Lim Davidson).
While this is a buddy movie offshoot, the police are among the weakest
characters as far as flip-flopping morals (the “bad guys” are just flat-out
evil with no other shades), and the trafficked women are often in peril (though
lots of determination towards a goal all the way around), there actually is
quite a gender balance as far as power goes, and that’s pretty refreshing.
There are a lot of gems in this film, such as the photography and
scenery. The desert looks beautiful rather than just burning sand and rock, and
wherever it is that Jay and Jimmy canoe is just stunning. Plus there are a lot
of great overhead shots I’m assuming done by a drone expert (consistent altitude
with little movement, which was impressive). Although polar opposites, director
Sen uses the desert as a character in a very similar fashion to Scorsese’s
presentation of New York City in Taxi
Driver: a forbidden wasteland that still manages to hold its beauty like a
snake about to strike.
Images from the Internet
Goldstone
Writer, director, editor, director of photography, composer: Ivan Sen
Lightyear Entertainment / Screen Australia / Archlight Films / MVD Entertainment
110 minutes, 2016 / 2018
www.lightyear.com
www.mvdb2b.com
Goldstone (as opposed to Tombstone) is a small Australian town where three
cultures meet: the indigenous population, the white settlers, and the Chinese workers.
This trio is bound to cause not just sparks but raging fires. Of course, it’s
up to the police to put out those fare-ups, or is it?
Although taking place in modern times, this cop drama that relies heavily
on motifs from the original Walking Tall (1973),
this is considered by most to be a Western, and I can certainly understand why,
with the beautiful Australian Outback being the backdrop, but more on that
later. In an off-beat way, one could also say it’s a buddy movie, with the typical
trope of two people (coppers in this instance) who don’t like each other initially
learn to trust and rely on each other, even if hesitantly.
Alex Russell and Aaron Pdersen |
This story relies a lot on corruption and questionable behavior on
everyone’s part, even the police. But the main source of evil doing that needs
to get eradicated is big business in the form of a gold extraction company that
is bribing and killing to get land from the Aboriginal people of the area, and
who delve their hand in human trafficking for the workers in the desolate
areas.
Jacki Weaver and David Whenham |
Needless to say, the acting level is superb, and I have no qualms with
stating that. Sometimes the accents are a bit theek-ahhs-flyees, and a bit to grabble with, but it’s worth it,
even on a subtle level; for example May’s mouth quivers when she speaks, but
the Mayor’s teeth are fixed in a way like a shark ready to bite.
Michelle Lim Davidson |
There is a lot of action in the third act (i.e., the last 20 minutes or
so), and I’m happy to say the ending does not follow a formulaic conclusion;
the rest of the film is a very slow build-up to the final showdowns. For
example, considering the buddy picture aspect, these guys are barely in the
same scenes together other than the occasion, until they arm up to the nipples
with ammo.
David Gulpilili |
There are a few extras here which are worth noting, all of them coming
in under two minutes and featuring interviews of the major cast and director,
describing anecdotes/motivations of the characters. These are “Detective Jay
Swan,” “Alex Russell as ‘Josh Waters’,” “Jacki Weaver as ‘The Mayor’,” “Ivan
Sen, writer, Director, Editor, Composer, DOP,” “The Corruption of Goldstone,” and
“The Indigenous People of Australia.” Thanks in part to their briefness, they were
enjoyable and easy watches. There are also two trailers for this film and two
for others.
This may have nuthin’ to do with nuthin, but there are a lot of characters with “J” names in this
film, such as Johnny, Jimmy, Jay, and Josh.
Despite the slow buildup, I can certainly understand the attention this
film has received, and it is well worth the watch if you like Westerns or gun-based
crime dramas.
No comments:
Post a Comment