Promised Land

Promised Land (2012)

tomatometer

50

Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 113
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 57

The earnest and well-intentioned Promised Land sports a likable cast, but it also suffers from oversimplified characterizations and a frustrating final act.

53

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 32
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 15

The earnest and well-intentioned Promised Land sports a likable cast, but it also suffers from oversimplified characterizations and a frustrating final act.

audience

44

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 9,245

My Rating

Movie Info

Promised Land is the new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate salesman who is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company's expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Drama

Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Dave Eggers

$7.5M

Focus Features

Promised Land Trailer & Photos

More Photos (8)
More Trailers and Videos (19)

Cast

Critic Reviews for Promised Land

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All Critics (113) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (57)

This is a solid if at times too conventional tale of a classic moral conflict.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Richard Roeper.com | Comment
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

[It's mostly] a well-wrought drama that feels genuine as it goes about spinning a tale worthy of our challenging times.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Denver Post | Comment
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Promised Land is more effective as an anti-fracking screed than as a drama.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Damon and McDormand are terrific as co-workers seeking the same goal, though they see their work from different points of view.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Miami Herald | Comment
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This isn't a movie about easy fixes, be they personal or political; it's a film about long-term problems.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Detroit News | Comment
Tom Long
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Far too awkward and contrived a drama to change many hearts and minds.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Relateable

January 17, 2013 Full Review Source: ReviewExpress.com | Comment
Diana Saenger
ReviewExpress.com

Promised Land is harmless but not compelling enough to warrant major attention.

January 14, 2013 Full Review Source: CHUD | Comment
Nick Nunziata
CHUD

... leaves little doubt which side it supports in terms of the drilling debate, but the predictable approach of this clumsy redemption story makes its impact less convincing.

January 14, 2013 Full Review Source: Cinemalogue.com | Comment
Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue.com

Touching and believable.

January 14, 2013 Full Review Source: Monsters and Critics | Comment
Ron Wilkinson
Monsters and Critics

The end result is simply a fracking mess.

January 11, 2013 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | Comment
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

While Damon and Krasinski have penned likable, real characters, the story surrounding them is only sporadically compelling.

January 10, 2013 Full Review Source: Moviedex | Comment
Chris Stuckmann
Moviedex

A one sided look at the argument against drilling for natural gas; Damon needs to entertain and stay off his soapbox.

January 9, 2013 Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | Comment
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com

A dishonest film about duplicity.

January 7, 2013 Full Review Source: honeycuttshollywood.com | Comment
Kirk Honeycutt
honeycuttshollywood.com

Though the crusading pic against fracking has its heart in the right place, the respectable narrative is too preachy to be entertaining or convincing drama.

January 7, 2013 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Damon and Krasinski have crafted a very well thought out tale, one that comes across as "Local Hero" meets "Erin Brockovich."

January 6, 2013 Full Review Source: MediaMikes | Comment
Michael A. Smith
MediaMikes

It's rather unfortunate to note that Promised Land eventually becomes as one-sided as its premise might've indicated...

January 6, 2013 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The film has plenty of smarts, good writing and solid performances to win over most everyone. (Full Content Review for Parents also available)

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Screen It! | Comment
Jim Judy
Screen It!

Promised Land actually delivers a compelling human drama along with its message.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
Perry Seibert
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The drama can be funny and romantic and occasionally moving. It has a bigger message about fracking and the environment, and big companies and small towns, and while Promised Land is not a great film, such ambition is not its intention.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Toledo Blade | Comment
Kirk Baird
Toledo Blade

Promised Land doesn't offer great drama, nor does it offer the great debate on fracking that some viewers might have been hoping for. Yet, the film has lots of small moments that make it a worthy effort.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | Comment
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

Maybe it would just be easier to say that "Promised Land" is a movie that flirts equally with greatness and dreadfulness.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Comment
Mathew DeKinder
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Promised Land attempts to present both sides of the argument while ultimately falling decidedly on the side of anti-corporatization.

January 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | Comment
Annlee Ellingson
Paste Magazine

Audience Reviews for Promised Land

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What's your price?

Great Film! Here's a good little movie. Interesting story, extremely well written, directed and acted. Helicopter shots add to the beautiful location cinematography. Great use of music, some original. This movie is not about the environmental devastation caused by fracking. It's about the predatory practices used by industry to gain access to our backyards and how communities loose their way in gasland and are torn apart. Go see it, very good!!!

Corporate salesman Steve Butler (Damon) arrives in a rural town with his sales partner, Sue Thomason (McDormand). With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (Krasinski) who counters Steve both personally and professionally.
October 1, 2012
xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
Manu Gino

Super Reviewer

excellent tackling of an interesting topic in a narrative format. i was already interested in the issues surrounding fracking leading into this film. ive read on it and seen documentaries. i was a tad disappointed that the film took a stance as by all accounts this issue is not at all cut and dry, but agendas are a part of film making and overall the agenda didnt remove my enjoyment of the film. good film making and story telling, and solid performances from the excellent cast.
October 1, 2012
sanjurosamurai
danny d

Super Reviewer

Promised Land Quotes

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    1. Alice: Let's see... 40, married, marketing, two kids.
    2. Steve Butler: 38, stripper/waitress, born to be a singer.
    3. Alice: F**k you! I'm a teacher!
    4. Steve Butler: No, I was talking about me.
    – Submitted by Moe J (24 days ago)
    1. Steve Butler: We are a nine billion dollar company... do you know what we're capable of?
    2. Dustin Noble: Do you?
    – Submitted by Chris P (38 days ago)
    1. Steve Butler: This town, this life... it's dying.
    – Submitted by Chris P (38 days ago)

Discussion Forum

View All
Topic Last Post Replies
Propaganda increasingly defines Damon rather than acting and great entertainment 6 days ago 0
Left-wing Liberal propaganda 6 days ago 33
makes me wonder 10 days ago 0
Promised Land is a good movie - don't be deterred. 13 days ago 3
Looks Pointless 13 days ago 3

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Latest News on Promised Land

January 3, 2013:
Video Interview with Cast of Promised Land: Rosemarie DeWitt
Promised Land is all about normal folks making tough decisions that might change their lives...

January 3, 2013:
Video Interview with Cast of Promised Land: Matt Damon
Matt Damon confesses his love for Rotten Tomatoes (and he meant our website, not the decaying...

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Foreign Titles

  • Promise Land (DE)
  • Promise Land (UK)
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