Promised Land

Glum, arty drama about youths in the heart of the American West

Three students from the class of 85 in small town Utah go their separate ways: Hancock (Jason Gedrick) shoots for basketball stardom, but settles for being a cop; his girlfriend (Tracy Pollan) goes off to college to explore art and romantic possibilities; their meek friend Danny (Kiefer Sutherland) curiously quits school in pursuit of an ambiguous job while eventually choosing companionship with a reckless woman (Meg Ryan). When Danny returns home with his new girl it paves the way for a life-changing Christmas.

"Promised Land" (1987) was the first movie to be commissioned by the Sundance Film Festival and, as such, is a true indie, costing $3 million in 1986 and ...

"Promised Land" is based upon a true story, but it just isn't a particularly interesting enough one. It is truly nothing more than a sober and uninspiring recounting of the facts and at least the film makers have produced a serious minded dramatisation of some real events without succumbing to the temptation of somehow making it into a popcorn movie and insulting everyone involved in the incident being depicted. It is also hampered by the fact the running time is principally preoccupied with Danny and Beverly's 400 mile drive back to Danny's hometown of Ashville and you are certainly made to suffer through every single uneventful mile of this belaboured and particularly tedious journey which has been beautifully and lovingly filmed, althoug...