Promised Land
What is your review for the entertainment value of the movie called, "Promised Land"?
Promised Land (Hover)
Promised Land is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate salesman who is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company's expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski), as well as the interest of a local woman (Rosemarie DeWitt). Promised Land explores America at the crossroads where big business and the strength of small-town community converge.
As usual, Matt Damon never disappoints. The film is simple yet very realistic about the issue of gas drilling in small towns. The cast was excellent, Frances McDormand creates a very credible role as a strong business partner for Damon and Matt's real life friend John Krasinski is also very good in the film.
The screen play was created by Damon and Krasinski with the idea of Damon directing it, however there was a change in plans when Matt realized that after finishing one movie he would have to go through months of pre-production and production of this film that would take him away from his family for longer than he expected. Krasinski wasn't happy but Damon was able to fix the problem by asking the director of Good Will Hunting if he would be interested in directing the movie himself and the director gladly accepted.
Those who follow Damon's career like myself, know he only works with directors he feels very comfortable with and most of the time, he chooses his roles based on the director and not the movie in itself.
I'm never sure about movies that make a political statement. I think Promised Land was a bit too biased and we're left to wonder if what the company was doing was good or not. If that is how companies today operate then it is an eye opener but we do not get any scientific research, in the end its all made out to be a hoax. The acting was passable but they could have done more to make it more mysterious.