More notable for its characters and solid writing than its (more or less) one-sided take on the fracking issue, this drama reunites Matt Damon with his Good Will Hunting and Gerry director Gus Van Sant. These three films also happen to represent Damon’s only writing credits. Whereas previously he had worked with the brothers Ben and Casey Affleck, here he is credited along with John Krasinski. Damon plays the company man sent to a rural Pennsylvania community to persuade the locals to sign over drilling rights. His partner is played by the always entertaining Frances McDormand, and the two have several amusing scenes, as when he learns she’s rented a beat-up stick-shift vehicle so that she gets to do the driving, he being unable to drive a stick.
Krasinski plays his nemesis, an environmentalist who becomes the Damon character’s first serious opposition (along with a cranky science teacher played by Hal Holbrook). Krasinski seems to specialize in playing smooth characters who stay just on the good side of the likeable/obnoxious divide. The other aspect of the plot is the quasi-romantic angle, because this kind of film has to have one. Rosemary Dewitt plays the object of both men’s affections.
As noted, the assumption behind the film is that fracking presents unacceptable risks to the local water supply. If that doesn’t bother you, the characters are well observed, Damon’s being the nice guy who has simply assumed he’s helping out rural folk like himself (while still driving a hard bargain for his employer). The interplay between the characters is natural, even if the plot twist that sort of settles how whether the town will take the gas company’s money is possibly too clever. The view of rural life is largely reverent — the only townsfolk
portrayed as yokels are a few who quickly decide to take the money.
IMDb link
viewed 12/11/12 7:30 pm at Ritz 5 [PDFS screening] and reviewed 1/3/13
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