Today brings a new trailer the latest in Matthew McConaughey's transformational roles, this time for Syriana writer/director Stephen Gaghan's first directorial effort in a decade, Gold. Based on the true story of the Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal, the film follows McConaughey as a struggling (and balding) businessman who teams up with a hapless geologist to find gold in the Indonesian jungle and fulfill the American Dream.

Maybe it's McConaughey's overt physical transformation or maybe it's the sort of Scorcese-light vibe going on, but this feels a little too awards-baity to spark my interest, even with the likes od Gaghan behind it. That said, Gaghan's previous works have been challenging, expansive, and well-crafted stories, so I'm hoping this could just be a marketing strategy on behalf of a studio who knows they've got a prize-winner in an awards-contender role.

Also starring Edgar Ramirez, Rachel Taylor, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, and Bryce Dallas Howard,  Gold opens wide on Christmas Day. Watch the new trailer below.

Here's the official synopsis.

GOLD is the epic tale of one man’s pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold.  Starring Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey as Kenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia.   Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

 

Directed by Oscar winner Stephen Gaghan (TRAFFIC, SYRIANA), the film stars Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (INTERSTELLAR, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET) and Golden Globe nominees Edgar Ramirez (HANDS OF STONE, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN) and Bryce Dallas Howard (JURASSIC WORLD, PETE’S DRAGON).  The film is written by Patrick Massett & John Zinman and financed by Black Bear Pictures.  Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman and HWY 61’s Michael Nozik served as producers alongside Massett, Zinman, and McConaughey.  HWY 61 partner Paul Haggis, Richard Middleton and Black Bear’s Ben Stillman are executive producers.

gold-movie-edgar-ramirez-matthew-mcconaughey-bryce-dallas-howard
Image via TWC

gold-movie-poster