disgusting, overrated, pointless

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

This one's a winner.All the way. The story,set up,editing,locations and particularly the characters are all spot-on and the result is a great example of the Australian Western genre. Pederson is brilliant as the hero and so are the rest of the cast and characters. This is set up as a second part or sequel to the director's earlier venture of a similar vein called 'Mystery Road'. You don't need to have seen that to view this first although two of the major plots of the first movie is given away in this one and might spoil your viewing of 'Mystery Road'. This is a far superior,pacier and sumptious sequel and should be classed as one of the year's best. If you liked Hell or High Water,Three Billboards... and similar ones this will be one to cherish.

Amazing how this guy never has to eat and never has to put gas in his vehicle. And he can come through the car wreck and gun battle at the end without a scratch even though at the time he seemed near death, not being able to walk or even pull the trigger of his gun. With his car rolled and smashed he jumps in another car at the end and takes off. Who did that one belong to? Were the keys just left in it?I love Australian movies and actors but this was not credible.

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.

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