Goldstone review: Ivan Sen’s slow-burner plays as a modern western – a crime epic set against the vast, dusty climate of rural Australia.
Goldstone review by Paul Heath, LFF 2016.
Writer/ director Ivan Sen‘s latest offering revolves around Indigenous detective Joe Swan (Aaron Pedersen) who rolls into the very isolated town of Goldstone, deep in the Bush. He’s on duty on a petty missing person’s enquiry but things don’t start off that positively when he is arrested for drink-driving by local policeman Josh (Alex Russell) as he enters the baron town. What starts out as a basic job, Joe starts to learn that there’s something a lot more sinister going on in Goldstone and he must battle against many local issues, including a pie-baking Mayor (a brilliant Jacki Weaver) and the manager of a mining firm which dominates the region. Josh, meanwhile, has the rather unenviable moral choice of either helping Joe solve his case, or to collude with the Mayor and the mining company’s rather corrupt manager Johnny (David Wenham).
Goldstone is a slow-burning affair that takes its time in setting out its stall – which is no bad thing at all. A wonderfully shot epic, though simple in its set-up, Sen’s film plays out like a modern-western, set amongst this sweeping, dusty and hugely vast region of Australia. Adding to the western comparison as well is the equally simple set-up of Gladstone itself – a town with just one sheriff/ policeman in Russell’s Josh, one pub, a mobile one-woman brothel (named Pinky’s), one dominant employer and the aforementioned dodgy Mayor – plus a gang of hoods and outlaws who seemingly work as security for the mine.
Sen shows huge restraint in his approach but draws convincing performances from his cast who carry one’s interest in the film. Weaver is, as we said, fantastic; the Oscar-nominated actress relishing her role as the dirty local governor and law of the land. Our two leads in Peterson and Russell are just as magnificent, as are the supporting players of the exceptional Wenham and particularly Pei-Pei Chang as the local madam Mrs. Lao.
With a Heat-esque conclusion where Sen eventually unleashes some action with an impressive and really well-shot shoot-out amongst some camper vans, the film has just enough going on to maintain your interest – though it must be said those looking for an all-out unstoppable bullet-fest will more than disappointed.
Goldstone is a well-versed, expertly constructed, supremely acted, languishing drama with lots of intent and intriguing subplots that had us nodding with approval as the final credits rolled.
Goldstone review by Paul Heath, October 2016.
Goldstone is playing at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival.
