Promised Land

Promised Land

Rated R and Released 1/4/13

Reviewed 1/10/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and Denny

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The strong cast of Promised Land does show promise. Matt Damon and John Krazinski co-wrote the screenplay and also star in the film. They are both very talented and make the viewing of the film worthwhile.

Matt Damon plays Steve Butler who with his partner Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), head to a small midwest farming community to a seemingly slam dunk job. They work for Global Crosspower Solutions, who is competing across the country to convince folks to sell their rights to their land to drill for natural gas with a process called fracking. This is just another job to them and they feel confident. The usual stereotypical small townness is a but much as Steve and Sue encounter the good ole boys who aren't selling over their dead bodies and then those who are impressed by cash flashing before their eyes. Global needs Steve and Sue to win the majority of the locals' vote to proceed with drilling. There is opposition by Hal Holbrook, sweet local school teacher, who speaks up at the public forum and obviously has done his homework on fracking. And even more opposition with environmentalist  Dustin (John Krazinski) who appears suddenly in the town and single handedly takes on the $9 billion company. The dilemma ensues for the town's people because they live in a community with no other industry than the dying farms and a little cash would go a long way. Both sides compete to win the town over. I found it difficult, which is probably by design, in viewing Steve as a total villain. Maybe Global, but not him. The movie does slow into a dull drum, but what saves it is the twist at the end. In the end, Promised Land is a story divided against itself. A statement that is not overly aggressive either way will satisfy those who don't want to be reconciled on the subject or don't care.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ