Re-teaming Oscar-winning screenwriter Matt Damon with his Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant, Focus Features has moved Van Sant’s latest film, Promised Land to December 28 for an Oscar-qualifying run.
The film was co-written by Damon along with John Krasinski and centers on a pair of corporate salesmen (Damon and Frances McDormand) who arrive in a rural town hit hard by the economic decline. Their goal is to get the local citizens to accept their company’s offer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. The two eventually run up against objection from a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (Krasinski).
The project was originally set up to be Damon’s directorial debut, but Van Sant stepped in as Damon’s schedule wouldn’t allow for the necessary pre-production planning.
A December release for the small picture shouldn’t be much of a problem considering there is room for a small guy to sneak in among the assembly of big budget features dotting the December schedule. There’s absolutely no reason to think this film could find some award prospects if it’s worthy, but, of course, that’s a big “if”.
With The Great Gatsby vacating the Christmas Day slot leaving Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained, Parental Guidance and The Guilt Trip as the lone holiday releases, Promised Land is currently positioned to be the final film to hit theaters this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if screeners are in voters’ hands before Christmas vacation for viewing over the holidays.
