Promised Land

***
Dir. Gus Van Sant

This film has particular significance in our society today. Between the fiscal cliff and various economic troubles over the last decade, much of it has to do with the rise of major corporations clashing with older ways of life. Contrasting the lives of small town farmers with those of big city people can have a powerful effect within this medium.

Promised Land tells the story of Steve Butler (Matt Damon), a salesman for a natural gas company. When he and his partner Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) are sent to a small town so the corporation can tap into available resources, both think it'll be an easy job. Yet because the area has been hit hard in recent years by the economy, people like schoolteacher Frank Yates (Hal Holbrook) aren't as receptive to the innovative businessmen trying to crush their way of life. As tensions rise, Butler and Thomason are then met by Environmentalist Dustin Noble (John Krasinski), there to combat the company's actions. As the mission turns into a political battle, Butler's morals and mentalities are questioned. By the end, he undergoes a spiritual journey which transforms his character.

Director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) presents a film which is very relevant to Americans everywhere. Whether you're a suburban or farmer in a small town, the message is applicable to a wide range of viewers. Sant's direction works really well with Damon and Krasinski's script. Although the pacing is pretty slow, there's a really nice twist in the plot at the end which makes up for it. The story flows very well, and effectively enhances the character development. Butler's internal conflicts reflect the various themes presented, and I really like how he changes over the course of the picture.

As far as the acting goes, you can see from the cast that there's definitive quality. While not Damon's best, he is nonetheless well suited for this role and has very solid chemistry with McDormand and Krasinski. This is a pretty light-hearted, more humorous drama, and the cast executes Sant's vision very effectively.

Between the business ethics and character intrigue here, this is certainly worth seeing. While nothing remarkable or as good as Sant's previous works, it is a very good film nonetheless.