Goldstone | Film review - Slow-burn mystery and explosive action

Slow-burn mystery and explosive action.

Following his exploits in 2013’s Outback-Western-cum-crime-thriller Mystery Road, Aaron Pederson’s dogged Aboriginal detective Jay Swan uncovers more racism, corruption and violence when he travels to a remote Queensland town to investigate a missing-person case in Goldstone.

He cuts a less heroic figure this time, at least initially. Indeed, he hasn’t even reached his destination before he’s been arrested for drunk driving by the callow local cop Josh Waters (Alex Russell). However, he’s soon finding evidence of dodgy dealing everywhere he looks – from the smiling, apple-pie-baking mayor (Jacki Weaver) to the shifty mining company boss (David Wenham), who appears to have everyone around here in his pocket. As with Mystery Road, writer-director Ivan Sen explores raw current issues (including sex-trafficking and indigenous land rights) while delivering a compelling mix of slow-burn mystery and explosive action set against the harsh beauty of the Outback landscape.

Certificate 15. Runtime 110 mins. Director Ivan Sen

Goldstone premieres on Sky Cinema Premiere on Tuesday 12 September.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWbk3-gEBRU

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.