Report Card---"Promised Land"

"Promised Land" is a movie about "fracking".
Turning rock into natural gas.
It does not turn celluloid into a good movie.
If you're me, you don't like any of the characters in it.
And they don't grow on you.
They figured out a way to make Frances McDormand unlikeable.
Previously, I had never found Frances McDormand unlikeable.
She is written unlikeably.
This doesn't help.
The whole thing really seems contrived.
Matt Damon is supposed to emerge heroic.
Not in my eyes.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Kind of.
B.

Compelling even?

No.
C-.

Is it controversial?

The subject matter is, but there really is no conflict there.
C.

Is it a story worth telling?

There is a story about this subject that's worth telling.
I don't think this is it.
C.

Is it good storytelling?

No, and the result is that I felt sort of ripped off.
D.

Is it well written?

Not particularly
B-.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

There were very good actors, who were wasted.
C.

Is it too long? Too short?

It felt a little long. Not much.
B.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

No, and no.
C.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Not predictable. But the surprises are jarring and unfulfilling.
C.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Only about the disappointment.
C-.

Is it funny?

No. It took itself WAY too seriously
C-.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

What do you think?
F.

Is it impressive ?

It's depressive.
D.

Overall grade: C-.

It certainly deserved to be as ignored as it was.

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My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel,"Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
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The paperback, "Mark Rothman's Essays" is still available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings remaining, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.
And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne & Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

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