I started watching this film, having absolutely no idea what it was about. Much to my delight, it was about the whole fracking topic (an area of interest to me), meaning natural gas drilling and it’s consequences on the environment. It stars Matt Damon as the main proponent of the gas company. His job was to sell the idea to a small country town, of letting the gas company drill and to purchase land leases. He made promises to certain people that their land could be worth millions of dollars. At his side is Frances McDormand, who is assisting him. Hal Holbrook was great as an opponent and local landowner, against the idea.
Then comes the dude from the small environmental company, attempting to undo all of the progress he had made to convince the townspeople of the positives of fracking. Along the way, he meets an attractive woman, played by Rosemarie Dewitt, at a bar, who of course, we come to find out, owns some 82 acres.
Spoilers…
Near the end of the film we find out the guy from the environmental company actually is an employee of the gas company, they were just trying to win both sides of the argument. Matt Damon’s character, having just found this out, tells the truth at the final town hall meeting. He is, of course, fired for this act. Afterwards, he goes back to presumably ask out that attractive woman and the credits roll.
This was a great film, from start to finish. It was about a current, real-world, ongoing debate. Should you lease your land to the giant energy company, even at the expense of the environment? Watch this film to help you decide. Not really, but it is very entertaining without taking a side.
Highly Recommended.
