Promised Land - Focus Features

Is it worth $10? Yes

On the surface, the deal is a no-brainer. People in a small town, bereft of hope and opportunity in the tough economy, are given a chance to potentially earn millions if they allow drilling for natural gas on their personal property. Of course everyone should say yes – aside from the money, isn’t natural gas a better alternative than oil?

As we learn throughout “Promised Land,” written by and starring Matt Damon and John Krasinski, it’s not that easy. Damon and Frances McDormand play Steve and Sue, reps for a natural gas corporation tasked with going into a small suburban town and getting as many people as possible to sign their property away. All is well until the high school science teacher (Hal Holbrook) asks probing questions at a town meeting, setting off a chain of events that lead to a vote on whether to allow the company in the town.

With a promotion waiting for him when he returns home, Steve is concerned. He doesn’t allow his flirtation with the local schoolteacher (Rosemarie DeWitt) to be a huge distraction, but he does worry when an environmentalist named Dustin Noble (Krasinski) arrives in town and starts rallying people against natural gas.

The standoff that ensues sizzles because of the actors involved and the intelligence of the story, which thrives in being a topical drama full of salient points. Damon is superb here, starting as a confident salesman who’s smarter than the people he’s selling to and knows it, and McDormand is a witty partner whose character has just enough back story to not feel superfluous. Krasinski’s performance is the most one-dimensional – Dustin is generally peppy and upbeat, seemingly unaware of the dangers of going against a $9 billion gas company – but by the end of the film we realize this was for a good reason.

Promised Land - Focus Features

Also note the symbolic touches director Gus Van Sant (“Good Will Hunting”) offers. For example, when Steve is defending natural gas at the town meeting the entire background is an American flag, a reminder of the capitalist society in which this type of greed and business can take place. When Dustin greets people at a local watering hole, he sings Springsteen’s “Dancer in the Dark,” which includes the lyrics “can’t start a fire without a spark,” reflecting how he’s trying to get the town to rally against what Steve and Sue are selling. Noticing little fine points will also allow savvy viewers to spot the details that lead to the plot twist in the end, though admittedly this is a tough find.

So many times we see stories allegedly based in reality only to play out in strict Hollywood terms. If you don’t believe me, I kindly refer you to every romantic comedy ever made. What’s great about “Promised Land” is that it plays out in a perfectly logical, realistic way that makes you think about the issue discussed and question what you would do in a similar situation. In that sense, it’s the furthest thing from a no-brainer that you could have.

Did you know?
Damon worked with Krasinski’s wife, Emily Blunt, in The Adjustment Bureau.

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nawabo said:

	... I am happy that your review is good bc I was not feeling the movie now I will go see it thanks
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January 03, 2013
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spmallee said:

	... I don't think this movie deserved a rating of ***1/2. It was sluggish and I did not connect with the characters. I don't believe it delivered the poignant message the way I wish it had either. It reminded me of Erin Brockovich but didn't quite get to that level of quality.
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January 18, 2013
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