PROMISED LAND
US, 2013, 106 minutes.
Matt Damon, Frances Mc Dormand, John Krasinsky, Rosemarie de Witt, Hal Holbrook.
Directed by Gus Van Sant.
Perhaps the title should be Promised Money. This is an environmental message film, written by Matt Damon and John Krasinsky, who also a star in the film. Matt Damon originally intended to direct. Its seriousness (with comic and humane touches) is obviously project dear to the writers. They asked Gus Van Sant, who had worked with Damon for Good Will Hunting and Gerry to take on the role of direction.
This is an anti-corporation film. The corporation here is Global Crosspower who are searching for natural gas by frakking. They are giving handouts, and agents visit farms and properties to persuade owners to sell the rights to their land for their hand out and for future profits. The agents are generally welcomed. Some, like the veteran science teacher, played by Hal Holbrook, explain the reasons against. Others are opposed because they value the handing down of properties within families.
Matt Damon is Steve Butler, a man of principles and a persuasive agent with a good pitch. Frances Mc Dormand is Sue, older, a veteran sales expert, with the teenage son at home. We see them do the deals and with charming rapport. They mingle with the locals, especially at the bar, joking with them, drinking, singing.
Suddenly, an environmental activist, John Krasinsky turns up, subverting their processes, talking to everyone, giving a vivid lesson about pollution to school children, with a demonstration, printing and distributing posters and brochures against the corporation. Steve and Sue argue with him. They set up a local fair to promote their cause but it is ruined by rain.
There is a twist at the end which audiences might see coming, reinforcing audience prejudices against the corporation, with their dirty tricks and tactics. This leaves the locals high and dry.
But it does mean that Steve has to rethink his approach, his principles, his future.
The film has something of the same message as Erin Brockovich but Steve Butler is not a campaigner against the corporations. However, with his final speech, we seem to be in the Frank Capra tradition of the ordinary, even little, man and his standing up to authoritarianism, with an optimism about the inherent good in old-fashioned values, old-fashioned American values.
1. A film about the environment? Corporations? Progress, finance, industry? Resources? The United States perspective?
2. A film about a campaigner for the corporations, the contrast with campaign of the IP s against them? The final mood of the film? The evocation in the 21st century of Frank Capra’s optimistic perspective about tradition and American values?
3. Pennsylvania, the small town, the motel, the bar, the gymnasium? The various homes, farms, properties? The countryside? The beauty? The farmlands? The musical score? Songs?
4. Matt Damon John Krazinsky as writers, performers? Their intentions in making this film?
5. The isSue of energy resources, fossil fuels and pollution? Natural gas? Investment in search for natural gas? The isSue of frakking? The drilling, the chemicals, explosions, the effect on the water, on soil, on cattle? A seemingly-friendly solution? People eager to accept it? The reservations? Dustin and his demonstration, the effect on the children? Photos?
6. The introduction to the executives, the meetings, the jokes, informality, the plans, taking over towns, buying them up? The size of the corporation? Billions of dollars? The promises?
7. Stephen Butler, his age, experience, education? In sales? Buying up towns? The story of the town in Iowa, his grandfather, the farm, painting it? His wanting to get out? The Caterpillar plant? Withdrawal? The death of the town? His studies, not on agriculture? His being recommended for promotion? Receiving the news, accepting it?
8. Travelling to Pennsylvania, the bus, the countryside? Meeting Sue, the jokes about the car and gears? Their plans, the visits to the different people, their pitch, the jokes, seeing people’s needs, the need for money, the plan? Going to the shop, buying the clothes, guns and guitars, the manager, his joking with Sue, her friendship? His support of natural gas? His friends helping with the fair?
9. Socialising, Steve, the bar, meeting Alice, her birthday, her friends, the drinks, the competition, the morning after? His waking at Alices’s? Bewildered? Hurrying to work with Sue? Later meetings with Alice, her home, her wanting to hear his pitch? Steve and his discussions with Richards, the money deals, not telling the full truth?
10. The contact with the headquarters? Dustin and his arrival? Steve’s puzzle, accosting Dustin? Sue and her puzzle? The final twist? The irony of Sue giving him money? The posters, the brochures, plastering them everywhere, on the car, even in the hotel? Dustin and his friendship with Alice, going out with her? His demonstration to the children, the model farm, dramatizing the pollution, the children’s reactions? The sending of the package to Steve? The fake photos? Steve and telling Alice? Talking with Dustin as he left, Dustin admitting the truth – lecturing Steve about playing with the big boys? Steve going to the gym, the gathering of the people, Mr Richards, his speech? Steve walking out?
11. The range of people in the town, discussions with authority, Mr Richards, farmers, the mothers, Paul and his eagerness, buying the car, the drink? The people against natural gas? The background of fighting in Iraq? Family properties?
12. The device of the fair? Promotion of the corporation? The rain?
13. The town meetings, Frank and his scientific background, the points made, the explanations? The later visit, the miniature horses? The invitation to the meal? Frank supporting Steve?
14. Steve’s final speech, Sue and her promotion, Steve fired? Steve and return to Alice?
15. The tone of the film, criticism of exploitation, traditional American values?
