Review of Promised Land (2012) by Spangle — 29 Apr 2017

Promised Land is a celebration of this forgotten group of people. The farmers that slave daily to see their crops be profitable. The people that were left over when a factory closed. With a natural gas salesman swooping in and telling them to sell off their land to be fracked and strike it rich from the efforts of the gas company, Promised Land shows how much more is at stake. Fighting back against the fracking due to what it would do to their family's land, the people of this small Pennsylvania town are not so willing to sell out their land and their animals. After the government and their old jobs took everything else, this land and farm is all they have left and they are not willing to see it be sold to possibly become ruins after it is fracked. Showing the big conglomerate Global Crosspower Solutions do all they can to try and win over this town, Promised Land shows that those in the positions of the farmers are not just doing what they are out of pure arrogance or pride. This is all they have and they will not stand by and let it be destroyed in some get rich quick scheme. Something's are more important than money and this is one of them.

Sending in Steve Butler (Matt Damon) and Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) to close the deal in the town, the two make very good headway and begin to have great success. However, a town meeting goes awry with science teacher, MA in Engineering holder, and former employee of Boeing Frank Yates (Hal Holbrook) arguing that fracking is not good for the water supply. Rattled, Steve winds up agreeing to a vote over whether or not the natural gas company can enter the town or not. Shortly after, environmentalist Dustin Noble (John Krasinski) arrives in town and begins rallying the troops against Steve and Global, even stealing Steve's new girl Alice (Rosemarie Dewitt).

Celebrating this working class American who loves the land and simply wants to be able to make ends meet, the two sides begin to clash. The two can see the benefit in selling out and making money while they can through a new industry. However, if it ruins the land, they will not be able to live with themselves. Elegantly showing the struggle faced by these citizens and how they know they need to find something new to do, but are too committed to their family farm to want to try and find a new option, Promised Land shows the tragic decision put before them: lose their identity or lose their dignity. It is not an easy choice and the film shows the negative forces surrounding their decision: propaganda from the environmentalists and empty promises and strong-arm tactics from the energy industry. Between the two, it feels like no decision is the right one and whatever route is chosen, one must follow their heart and figure out what is right through thorough soul searching.

However, in spite of its nuanced approach to these two sides, Promised Land can get a bit preachy at the end with its anti-corporate message and its pro-environment closing monologue by Damon's character. While it is well-written, it devolves into a bit of a public service announcement and is far too preachy in its third act to really make it all come together. Fortunately, until then, it gives a voice to the muted. Those whose issues are not worth becoming passionate over for many Americans and whose voices are written off as belonging to some nefarious group stuck in the past. These are hard working people who do what they do out of respect for their past generations and because they love what they do. Through people such as Alice, Frank, and Jeff Dennon (Scoot McNairy), we see just how they work to be able to accomplish anything. Shortcuts are not an option as they have spilled too much sweat on the soil to just sell it off. It is a part of who they are and they are a part of it. If it dies due to fracking, then a whole lot more than a few acres of land are dead: their whole lives are dead and gone forever.

Featuring an excellent lead performance from Damon alongside strong supporting turns from McDormand, Holbrook, Krasinski, Dewitt, McNairy, Titus Welliver, and Lucas Black, Promised Land may not be as good as the previous Gus Van Sant directed and Matt Damon co-written effort, but it is a good film nonetheless. Shining the spotlight on an area covered in eternal darkness with strong characters that bring the film to life with realistic drama and natural and easy flowing comedy, Promised Land is a film that has unfortunately been met with a mixed reception. In spite of its reception, it is an essential film that openly debates the pros and cons of fracking, as well as how things can get misrepresented in these cases and how much influence big companies truly have in the world. Bringing to the forefront the lives of farmers is not glamorous, but it is incredibly well taken in this smart, funny, and sad, story of a town fighting for its life against a natural gas giant.