Two drifters stumble across the largest piece of Gold ever found, and they immediately claim it for themselves. As the two men, known only as Man One (Zac Efron) and Man Two (Anthony Hayes), struggle to figure out how to physically commandeer the piece of gold, the harsh world in which they live will make things incredibly difficult. Life in the desert is challenging, but they have so much on the line. Will they strike it rich, or will they fall at the hands of all that challenges them?
Zac Efron has come a long way since his days as the Disney heartthrob in the High School Musical series. He’s found a way to squeeze into adult comedies, family-friendly sports films, and now semi-futuristic westerns. He fills his roles well, and he always makes his films better–Gold is no exception to that. Efron once again fills the screen with emotion, strength, and genuine talent–but this time almost entirely by himself. There are two others that share screen time with Efron’s “Man One,” but that screen time in the grand scheme of things is limited. Gold reminds me of a film called All Is Lost starring Robert Redford, where Redford’s character is lost at sea by himself, struggling to find solace in the fate he expects to come. Man One is lost in a sea of sand, and as he contemplates what he believes will eventually befall him, Efron is tasked with bringing themes of solitude, greed, and determination to life–and not a second goes by that he doesn’t convey every bit of emotion with perfection.
There are a slew of messages hidden in the narrative of Gold regarding greed and friendship, and the way in which writer-director Hayes and co-writer Polly Smyth blend these messages are blissful and effective. Maybe blissful is a strange way to describe a film about isolation and emotional struggle–but everything plays out so beautifully that it actually feels the most appropriate way to do so. With Efron leading the way, every ounce of emotion, and every part of the messages are conveyed wonderfully–and viewers are not only entertained from beginning to end, they are educated. It’s always nice to learn something when watching a film, and it’s clear that Gold aims to educate its viewers, and is successful.
Filmed on location in Australia, Gold aims to be as realistic as possible. There are no fancy tricks, no over-the-top frills, and nothing that seems out of the ordinary. The effects are practical, and Gold as a whole comes across to viewers beautifully and accurately.
Like the sets, which are integral to the story of Gold, hair and makeup is done practically–and each and every one of the effects fits with the narrative and the film as a whole. Like the narrative as a whole, Man One changes aesthetically at an incredibly slow rate, and the hair and makeup department must be very attentive when it comes to altering his appearance throughout Gold. They dominate their space in the film, and viewers' perception of the character and the film skyrockets as a result.
Gold was fought over by distribution companies, meaning that these companies anticipate the reception of the film to be incredibly positive. There’s no doubt in my mind that Gold will find success globally, and that viewers around the world will gravitate to Efron’s performance. Look for this film to cause some Oscar buzz next year–yeah, it’s that good.
Directed by Anthony Hayes.
Written by Anthony Hayes & Polly Smyth.
Starring Zac Efron, Akoul Ngot, Thiik Biar, Andreas Sobik, Anthony Hayes, & Susie Porter.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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