REVIEW: ‘Gold Digger’ from Acorn TV
Photo: Julia Ormond and Ben Barnes star in Gold Digger, now available on DVD from Acorn TV. Photo courtesy of Acorn TV / Provided by press site with permission.
Gold Digger, the six-part miniseries from Acorn TV, follows the character of Julie (Julia Ormond) as she figures out life after a devastating divorce. Her husband of many years (Alex Jennings) left her for her best friend (Nikki Amuka-Bird), and with the ink hardly dry on the divorce papers, Julie runs into a young, attractive man at the British Museum. Benjamin (Ben Barnes) takes an immediate liking to Julie and asks her out on a date.
So begins an exquisite six hours of television that find Julie and Benjamin starting a life together, much to the chagrin of her ex-husband and their three children (Sebastian Armesto, Jemima Rooper and Archie Renaux). They care about Julie and believe she is falling prey to a gold-digging suitor. Benjamin is much younger than Julie’s 60 years, so they reason that he’s after her country estate and oodles of money.
What’s so interesting about Gold Digger is that Benjamin’s role remains so mysterious (and whatever his intentions might be will not be spoiled here). On the one hand, the audience sides with Julie’s children, suspecting that Benjamin is exploiting this relationship for the financial security that comes with being with Julie. Then, after checking its bias at the door, the audience starts to feel for Julie and Benjamin. Why can’t she enjoy her life? Who cares if this relationship doesn’t fit the societal model for a 60-year-old? No one is getting hurt, they’re both of age, and they dote on each other like a married couple. This is all true … if Benjamin is true.
There are definitely feminist themes at work here, and they will challenge the viewers and their preconceived notions about how to view love later in life. In many ways, one needs to accept Julie and Benjamin’s relationship because otherwise that’s being wholly unfair to Julie, but in the same regard, this could be a situation in which she’s being exploited and taken advantage of.
Julie’s ex-husband receives a good deal of airtime as well, especially in episode four. It seems as if the children blame him for everything. By the rules of deduction, if he hadn’t cheated on their mother, the two would still be married, and Benjamin wouldn’t be in their lives. One wonders while watching Gold Digger whether Julie’s motivations are tied to the love she still might have for her ex, and ditto for her ex, who is increasingly enthralled with his partner, but perhaps for no other reason than because Benjamin has entered the picture.
Of Julie’s children, who are all grown and struggling with different issues in life, Della (Rooper), is the most engaging. She’s a struggling stand-up comedian who is trying to make amends with the woman she loves most in life. She rents a “shoebox” apartment in London, a far cry from her wealthy upbringing. Patrick (Armesto) is living the traditionally happy life with a wife, child and successful job, but behind the curtains, he’s hurting and questioning himself. He’s also Benjamin’s fiercest critic. Then, there’s Leo (Renaux), who lives with Julie in the countryside, which makes Benjamin’s moving in that much more disruptive.
Gold Digger, created by Marnie Dickens and now available on DVD from Acorn TV, features six hours of smart storytelling with vividly-drawn characters and important themes to consider. The acting — from Ormond to Rooper to Armesto — is top-notch and believable. This feels like a real family, fracturing and trying to find their way.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@Hollywood Soapbox
Gold Digger, created by Marnie Dickens, stars Julia Ormond, Sebastian Armesto, Jemima Rooper, Archie Renaux, Alex Jennings, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ben Barnes. Six episodes. Available now on Acorn TV. Click here for more information.
