Promised Land (2012)

Two representatives from a big natural gas corporation, Steve Butler (Matt Damon) and Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), arrive in a small farming community offering to buy the rights to extract natural gas from the earth. The farmers, savaged by the poor economy, are torn between taking the cash and risking the damage that the drilling (known as "fracking") could do. Matters are complicated when a grass-roots activist, Dustin Noble (John Krasinski) shows up to oppose them. At the same time, Steve finds himself developing feelings for a local schoolteacher (Rosemarie DeWitt). Will Steve figure out the right thing to do?

Despite good intentions, Promised Land raises more issues than it can reasonably tackle. Specifically, it brings up the complex question of what farmers are supposed to do in such a terrible economy, and should they risk damaging the environment in exchange for financial security? Yet it turns its focus to the personal journey of the Steve Butler character, and resolves that, leaving the farmers on their own. Van Sant gives this one a more cursory touch than usual, recalling Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester, rather than more challenging films like Gerry or Elephant. But the well-rounded characters -- especially Frances McDormand's -- make it enjoyable along the way.