Promised Land



Promised Land is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting). 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.

This was a very well written down to earth feeling movie. Simple town life vs corporate america and all the lines of thinking that come with that. All the characters were well developed and played great off of each other. It was very well played out how Matt Damon's emotions about what his job was went up and down and all over the place and you find yourself really rooting for him to figure it all out.

I would definiely recommend people checking this one out. It's not in a wide release at all so you will probably have to wait, but I think it's worth the time.