Fool's Gold

This movie reminds me of what Ron Bozman told me about his career. Sometimes, you make bad movies just to make a living. Producers recognize bad movies, but know they will make money and that is why they get made. Well our definitions of "make a living" are vastly different. Perhaps this is the key to not having to settle? As far as this movie goes, clearly the producers were banking on star power and charisma from both Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, back together on screen to sell tickets because I didn't hear much else from the ad campaign but this. That immediately makes me think the movie will be complete crap, but honestly, it was pretty watchable. Their chemistry and charisma together was great and I didn't even mind MM's seeping arrogance. I actually really enjoyed the father-daughter relationship, with the Paris Hilton-esque diva girl trying to bond with her billionaire father. The scene where she describes her 24yr-old mother and stands up to her old dad was touching. Kate Hudson was absolutely charming in her quirky, beautiful way. And I am a sucker for the history mystery movies. I did feel like I was learning something whether it was based in fact or not.

McConaughey's character had an Indiana Jones like appeal. A screw-up who is completely passionate and one-minded in his focus. This quality is what always got him (and Indy) through and made him relatable to the audience. Some of the lines were really great. Hudson says "We just had sex in a church and we're not married and now we are digging up a grave. What is that like a triple sin?" McConaughey digs up a barrel in the grave and says maybe its the grave of a "midget with cheap relatives." I laughed. The killing and shooting got a bit crazy at the end. So many bullets flying and no one got hit? That really undermines the danger of guns and is just plain ridiculous, not funny. I'm not sure if it was edited because we were an a plane, but the plane crashing in the water was completely cut. They were headed for the water and then it cut to them floating amongst debris. It felt like they ran out of budget. I can only assume it was "edited for content" because that was just plain bad filmmaking. So what happened with this film. It was good plane fare, but how did it fair at the box office? Well rotten tomatoes gave it about the most scathing reviews imaginable. Maybe all those people went in with expectations, but I clearly had none and was able to enjoy many moments of this film.