Promised Land
Focus Features | Release Date: December 28, 2012
6.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 70 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
33
Mixed:
28
Negative:
9
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User Reviews

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6
ZakMSep 3, 2013
A fairly average story, but great acting, directing and cinematography does go to make a good film. The humor of the film is very good, an enjoyable film, but it's not about to go win any major awards. Still a great film to pass the time withA fairly average story, but great acting, directing and cinematography does go to make a good film. The humor of the film is very good, an enjoyable film, but it's not about to go win any major awards. Still a great film to pass the time with great performances from Damon and Krasinski.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
bfoore90Oct 13, 2016
Promised Land is a solid flick with a good message about the dangers that come with fracking and how big businesses try to take advantage of small towns. Again, if you can get past the pacing Promised Land is a solid movie that benefits fromPromised Land is a solid flick with a good message about the dangers that come with fracking and how big businesses try to take advantage of small towns. Again, if you can get past the pacing Promised Land is a solid movie that benefits from the sure direction of Van Sant and the performances of the main cast. Its a passable political drama that touches on a very important issue this day and age.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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4
ScraperApr 15, 2016
I really wish representatives of my interests didn't put together such manipulative crap. The reality of the natural gas situation is that people in small towns are not named Alice and Frank, they aren't all teachers at the high school,I really wish representatives of my interests didn't put together such manipulative crap. The reality of the natural gas situation is that people in small towns are not named Alice and Frank, they aren't all teachers at the high school, they're powerless against fracking companies, fracking representatives don't hand out bribes to environmental companies - they control governmental officials so they won't have to. The bullying is done on paper and is settled 99% before it comes to your doorstep.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
lasttimeisawFeb 20, 2013
This film should’ve been Matt Damon’s director debut (he is one of the co-writer and co-producer) since Ben Affleck is hot on fire in his director chair, it must be quite tempting for Matt to follow his suit. Then for unknown reasons, heThis film should’ve been Matt Damon’s director debut (he is one of the co-writer and co-producer) since Ben Affleck is hot on fire in his director chair, it must be quite tempting for Matt to follow his suit. Then for unknown reasons, he backed up from directing while remaining in starring in it. So a safe backup stand-in is Gus Van Sant, to whom Matt and Ben will forever indebted for the sake of GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997, 8/10), so the proviso here is that one should not expect it as a true Gus Van Sant’s vehicle than a tossed-off understudy product under his belt (as I will not call his previous film RESTLESS 2011, 7/10 a misfire). The trailer can also be misguiding, if one appraises from its juicy backstory, then assumes it will be another righteous individuals vs. global gas company on ecological terms of winning the moral and monetary victory, or another ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000, 8/10), PROMISED LAND never goes that far to unveil a certain impulse of inspirational excitement, and craftily it engineers on a personal route of redemption and choosing the right way to go, with a trifle soppy sentiment and hasty conspiracy theory. Matt Damon is always playing Matt Damon (even in the action-packed BOURNE series), less an articulate orator than George Clooney, but wearing a much humbler ordinary-joe outfit, his final confession is banal but teemed with sincerity and earnestness, also an emotional spiel in the pub, which will wrought a punch in the face soon after, might end up as the highlights in his acting stretches. Frances McDormand, is excellent as usual, hardly shines with her sidelined role, basically as an observer, her character holds up a well-maintained bulwark and conveys a more reality-concerned authenticity. John Krasinski (also a co-writer and co-producer), oozes a smug confidence throughout, until it comes his “twist-revealing”segment, switching between two antagonistic parties could never be easier or more shameless from his gauche utterance, also the twist is very lame (maybe I’ve watched too many USA TV series since I literally felt it coming and prayed it would not be the case). Rosemarie DeWitt, Krasinski’s significant other in reality, curbed by the benevolent nature of her role, is too trivial to mention. The only solid supporting performance is from Hal Holbrook, the one and only brain among the villagers, concludes the film with his concern on the focal point, how we can juggle with both the advantage of our modern life and the elephant-in-the-room ramifications it instigates, we all want to take the high ground of morality while not giving up our various privileges, there is no such good things, a pipe dream for all. To conclude, PROMISED LAND has its languid pace and formulaic structure, the palette is enjoyable, but it is just a foil in Gus Van Sant’s erratic filmography, period.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
MonsieurEamesJan 21, 2013
Average, but Promised Land benefits from Gus Van Sant's steady hand and some solid work from a talented cast. I don't see why everyone was so upset by the ending. I thought it was satisfying.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
oblique15Dec 7, 2013
Promised Land is a fight that puts BIG Business vs small town.It`s nice that it shows you how cruel big businesses can be, but it`s nothing that most don`t already know.The movie is really slow for the most part.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
worleyjamersJun 4, 2013
Promised Land is an adequate political drama. It has a decent screenplay and some good performances, but nothing special here. The film, while solid, lacked urgency or any real conviction; it seemed like these actors were stuck in a bland movie
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
cheeseberger11Sep 3, 2013
Promised Land is solid flick with a good message at the end of a plot which wasn't as predictable as you would think. Not one of Damon's best performances but not bad.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
McLaughlinViewsSep 3, 2013
A fairly average story, but great acting, directing and cinematography does go to make a good film. The humor of the film is very good, an enjoyable film, but it's not about to go win any major awards. Still a great film to pass the time withA fairly average story, but great acting, directing and cinematography does go to make a good film. The humor of the film is very good, an enjoyable film, but it's not about to go win any major awards. Still a great film to pass the time with great performances from Damon and Krasinski.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017
An interesting subject, a respected director, an impeccable direction, with an spectacular cinematography and pleasant music, Promised Land is more than what it promises but does not advance more than what it tries, thestory is not so much aAn interesting subject, a respected director, an impeccable direction, with an spectacular cinematography and pleasant music, Promised Land is more than what it promises but does not advance more than what it tries, thestory is not so much a critic as it is a reflection, there are structural flaws in the script, but its protagonist manages to get ahead, in addition to that its director helps sufficiently… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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