Wonderful Movie

Great Film overall

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

I haven't seen a movie for a while, that would be so honest and deep in so many levels, as this one. I was surprised to see such low grades on it, when everything and everyone in it, are just brilliant. Matt Damon, superb as always, Frances the same, dialogs are good and witty, scenery and message of the movie is touching. Its a crazy thing, where this world is going...We are losing everything and still nobody cares about all that, when the right amount is offered. Yes, there is money in our land, its in the gas or oil, or something else, but when this money is spent, what is there left?what will we eat and where will we live?...Its a scary thought and a scary future, that will happen, whether we like it or not.There isn't a lot of Matt Damons out there that could stop it happen and even he wasn't able to... I will be thinking about this movie and its message for a very long time..

"Promised Land" is a movie for the present time in America. Natural gas, oil shale, oil and related explorations are becoming more common. The world's consumption of oil continues to leapfrog, as more and more one- time third world countries acquire some affluence. Energy prices continue to work their way up. Sources of natural energy that once were far too expensive to produce, now become economical. At the same times, many small farm communities continue to shrink, and most become poorer with few jobs and businesses to support the dwindling farm populations. Into this setting, "Promised Land" gives us a story of two employees who move into a rural community to buy up the leases for natural gas exploration and possible production. It's a story about people doing their job in earnest, and about the people of a small town. The town is in rural Pennsylvania, but it could be anywhere in rural America. – as Matt Damon's character, Steve Butler says. And, the people of this community must weigh the promise of prosperity against unknown possible negative effects on their natural surroundings from drilling. There is an interesting twist in this story that comes out at the end. The cast are all quite good. Besides Damon, Frances McDormand co-stars as his sidekick employee, Sue Thompson. John Krasinski is very smooth and believable as Dustin Noble. Rosemarie DeWitt plays Alice, the fifth- grade school teacher. Titus Welliver is Rob, the local guns and grocery story owner. Hal Holbrook, at 88 years of age, is the retired MIT scientist and volunteer high school teacher, Frank Yates. And, the many town folk who are extras add nicely to this story. The scenic shots are something right out of Norman Rockwell's pastoral America. Damon and Krasinski wrote the screenplay for this film. They also co-produced it with director Gus Van Sant. The film moves at a steady pace that may be too slow for some people. Those who need the fast and furious frenzy of constant-action movies to get their adrenalin flowing are not likely to enjoy this film. But, for the rest of us, it's a nice story that the whole family can enjoy.

(Did not post this when I watched it last year) Another in-flight entertainment, with a 'too-pat' on-the-nose obvious title (not necessarily a bad thing).Promised Land - Gus Van Sant. Matt Damon. Frances 'Fargo' 'Burn after reading' McDormand. Rosemarie 'Your sister's sister' DeWitt. John 'The (US) Office' Krasinski. Hal 'All the president's men' Holbrook.A piece of trivia that interested me - Krasinski and Damon even share screenplay credit, and it was once supposed to be Damon's directorial debut. If it had been, it would've been clear that Affleck picks them way better than Damon does, though Damon's raking it all in for now.....Matt Damon seems to be wearing his politics on his sleeve these days. With this and 'Elysium', it will be no wonder if he's berated by the conservatives. Set in rural farmland being targeted for gas drilling, Damon plays the sales veep for one such entity who's being thwarted at the game by a spokesman for an environmental agency. Who makes it? Why the interest? Why the focus on this small town? Why gas and not other elements of climate change? I did not get answers to most, but was not dissatisfied either. Little elements like the initial conversation between the town rep and Damon's character in a bar prior to the town hall meeting the next day, trying to emotionally influence an Afghan war vet who's the guardian of his dead vet bro's son, a bar brawl that doesn't conform to expectations - there are a few more such moments that drew me in.I found the movie and its twists decent and engaging, but bereft of emotional heft that could secure more buy-in from me as an audience-member. Matt's playing the bad guy everyman, but his performance still resonates, like it always has, and we still end up rooting for him, not to win, but for eventual redemption, even it needs convenient contrivances. However, his path, and what happens to him is not all straightforward, and credit needs to be given for that. I can watch DeWitt in anything, but having her character in the movie was a major distraction that the plot did not need at all, as it is with love-interests in movies these days. Other than that, and a few other missteps like not completely developing the relationship between McDormand and Titus 'Gone baby gone' 'The town' Welliver's characters, this movie gets everything else right, and can be watched once. Not a completely missed opportunity.

On first look, Promised Land seems to be an environmental film that has some sort of agenda. But if you dig deeper, it's more than that. It bring to light the issues of fracking and how American small towns are living in the past(which is a very good thing.) That being said, this is a good film that has a rather straightforward narrative, great acting, a solid script, and even a few unexpected twists and turns.Gus Van Sant, who reunites with Matt Damon, directs a film about two corporate people whom are employees of Global. They travel to a small, but economically struggling Pennsylvania town where they attempt to buy drilling rights from the citizens.The acting is the highlight of the film. This can be characterized as a character study mainly on Matt Damon's character, Steve Butler. We see what changes Butler goes through during the film and how it changes the kind of person he is. Damon himself is a very good actor and he does well here. Frances McDormand is also really good as Damon's partner. John Krasinski, who co-wrote the script, is wonderful as Damon's rival.Overall, Promised Land turns out to be a good movie. It's not entertaining as it could have been, but it brings across some serious environmental issues. Story-wise, I felt like this film could have used more romance between Damon and Rosemarie DeWitt's character, since the one we got felt off. But other than that, this happens to be a solid film. I rate this film 8/10.