Review of Promised Land (2012) by Jeff B — 08 Jan 2013

Even though it's preachier than a convention of pastors, Matt Damon's latest act of Good Will isn't a total fracking disaster. In fact, it's a feel good message movie that really hits home, especially in Northeastern-most Pennsylvania where the shale industry's set the now-flammable tap water on an extra-crispy setting. Oh, it colors by numbers, only the colors are black and white even if the numbers amount to a respectable figure. The movie's most egregious act is how it forces intelligent filmgoers drink the communal Kool-Aid dredged up from the water of Silent Spring rather than use subtlety. Regardless of how hard he proselytizes, however, Damon earns a Gold Star for formulating what's topical into an easy-to-swallow pill. It's still a force-fed pill, mind--just not a horsepill choking hazard.

In this R-rated drama, a multibillion-dollar company sends two of its top salesmen (Damon, Frances McDormand) to convince a small town's residents to lease their land for fracking rights.

Damon allows the rest of the cast to shine first, relegating himself to the rube role before a predictable close plays out. Even after kicking blockbusting ass as amnesiatic superspy Jason Borne, Damon perfectly embodies an Everyman quality like he was the lovechild of Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck. The story doesn't pose a Land of opportunity but, thanks to the taut direction of Damon's Good Will Hunting collaborator Gus Van Sant, the action never lags. Still, Damon and co-screenwriter Krasinski come up with a twist and romantic hook clever enough to keep even the most cynical filmgoers vested.

Bottom Line: Bourne mediocrity.