cdcrb Jay a besotted aborigine federal officer goes looking for a missing girl in Australia. people are getting rich mining indigenous land for gold. everyone turns a blind eye with the expectation of big bucks. we are in the middle of no where, but it sure is beautiful. desolate, lonely and breathtaking. nothing is ever really explained and you have to figure things out on your own. the two stars are great and unknown to me. and the bad guys don't have to wear black hats. they carry guns. worth a look see.

AudioFileZ Goldstone is driven by the two central characters who are quite apart when the story begins. The Australian outback would be the other central character which at times is so atmospheric it eclipses even the story itself. That story is a stark morality play. centering around corporate greed in a place the corporation feels it can act autonomously. Goldstone blends elements all seen previously yet does so so bare bones it works. Nothing flashy here in the least as director Ivan Sen keeps the production as stark as the landscape. The two leads are excellent especially the native Aboriginal detective role played by Aaron Pedersen It should be mentioned the musical score is a haunting sweeping one also by the director, it adds great depth and drama.

eddie_baggins Since his debut Australian film Beneath Clouds in 2002, Aussie director Ivan Sen (who also often writes, edits, scores and acts as DOP on his films) has developed an impressive resume of local films, often tinged with Aboriginal themes and undertones, that has seen the talented filmmaker reach a peak with Toomelah in 2011, but his greatest success audience wise, 2013's Mystery Road has now allowed him to develop one of the most surprising follow-ups in recent memories with the return of Aaron Pedersen's detective Jay Swan in Goldstone.Mystery Road was a proficient if slightly underwhelming police thriller but Aboriginal detective Swan offered a unique and intriguing central figure for audiences to lay hold on and the film also showcased Sen's ability to work on a bigger canvass than he previously had participated on.Building on the groundwork of that film, Goldstone feels like both a bigger event and a higher reaching one and while this time around Swan feels like more of a shell of his previous self, here he is unkempt and a clear alcoholic, Sen is entering new ground with this thriller which finds itself tinged in Australian themes, language and folklore but also not that far removed from fever dream mystery's not dissimilar to late 90 European nature and the town of Goldstone offer's Sen a playground of ideas that touches on all things from our lands natural resources, its past histories, people smuggling the very nature of small town life in the harsh surrounds of the Australian outback.Sen has always been a visually talented director and Goldstone shines in this department, the neon signs of Goldstone's seedy establishments offer much intrigue and seedy vibes while the films sparsely used yet moody score fits in well with the Wending-Refn feels.Goldstone also boasts a fantastic support cast for Pedersen's rather disappointing return as Swan, with Alex Russell's local police offer Josh, David Wenham's shorts wearing mining boss Johnny, David Gulpilil's tragic Aboriginal elder Jimmy and Jacki Weaver's local mayor Maureen all providing the film with a collection of floored human beings that showcases Sen's ability as a writer, much like he did with Toomelah.Filled with striking visuals, Goldstone is much more than the simple story of Jay Swan's hunt for a missing Chinese national and while it's disappointing for the film that Pedersen and Jay Swan as a character are the films biggest weaknesses, this surprising sequel with a significantly touching end coda is one of 2016's very best local film products and another step for Sen that seems to suggest there's a genuine Australian classic lying in wait for his taking.3 ½ cakes out of 5

bhoffman-08804 I tried to get up and get some food a few times and had to throw this on pause each time.Noting sexual or filth talk, but wont keep the kids interested unless your kids actually have a brain and aren't drugged up on 50lbs of sugar.Acting was unreal...and I mean Unreal! Main character and co-star = awesome. Being in the states I had no clue who either were, but I know them now.Main actor kinda like a combination of mel Gibson and Charles Bronson, co-star kinda like a serious woody harrilson.Over all - awesome. Really good flick to add to my collection of QUALITY unlike 99.99% of the Hollywood generic politically correct crap shoved down my throat daily!