Promised Land

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Chris S @Janomi Jul 7 Promised Land is strongest when it stays grounded in Matt Damon’s lead performance and the rhythms of a struggling rural community. Damon gives Steve Butler intelligence, charm, guilt, and corporate practicality without playing him as a villain. He sees himself as reasonable, even when his work is morally questionable. Gus Van Sant gives the film a quiet sense of place, using diners, school gyms, farms, bars, and public meetings to make the fracking debate feel personal. Frances McDormand brings dry humor and realism as Steve’s partner, while John Krasinski adds a useful opposing force. The movie works best in the gray areas, understanding why towns want the money and why environmental concerns matter. The problem is that the late twist involving Krasinski feels too convenient and manipulative. The politics are sincere but somewhat obvious, and the restrained tone leaves the drama a little muted. It has its moments, but it is more thoughtful than gripping. See more Downriver R @Downriver Jan 20 This is a good heartfelt movie. Great cast Great acting Great story Great overall movie. I wish they'd make more like this now a days. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Nov 4 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Blu B @RT43513976 08/17/2024 It's alright and has a subject with lots of commentary and some interesting characters. It's also got some nice shots every now and than but lots of times it's kind of dull to look at. It's all right all around for the most part. Where this has two huge problems besides the basic direction is in the middle it feels like it gets very muddled. It feels like stuff is just happening and we really lose focus. It's like we know we wanna set up a conspiracy and drama but we just have no idea how set it up cohesively. The twist isn't bad though and thought provoking. It's just not set up very well at all. Finally, this has a NASTY problem where it goes on long rants where it preaches rather than entertains with it's enviormentalist message. The gym scene with Holbrook just explaining facts like we're in enviormental class gets really boring and any drama this builds up just always comes to a screeching halt whenever it does that. It can't get out of it's own way in tha regard. Skip This. Dark Waters (2019) does this same theme this is going for 1000% better. See more Gareth v @geewah 06/18/2023 A movie that at it's roots is a political/environmental tale of big business trying to impose their will on a small town through money and propoganda. A solid enough effort from van Sant but not his best work either. See more John R @RT65756385 01/07/2023 While the environmental discussion in this movie is fairly simplistic for most of the runtime (essentially both sides lie to rural people "for their own good"), what this movie does really well is point to what is good about local communities like this: Namely that there is a real sense of belonging that exists in towns like the one pictured here. The farms have been in the family for generations, the land is a part of the people and the people are a part of the land. There's tradition and history there. To be sure, a lot of towns like this one are dying. The agricultural way of life is becoming more and more difficult to sustain if you aren't doing it at a very high volume, but what Matt Damon realizes over the course of the movie is that he's working out his own disappointment about the failure of his hometown, pushing his animus at people in similar situations, wondering why, as he says, they "won't just leave." When he's forced to come to terms with the damage he's doing, with the lies and half-truths told to people he's actually learned to care about, it gets to him. This movie takes its time. It's central conflict leaves a lot to be desired, but the value of local cultures and communities, and for me, the ending, make it all work. See more Read all reviews

Promised Land

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