Fast Chat: Matt Damon talks 'Promised Land,' fracking
Frances McDormand and Matt Damon star in Gus Van Sant's "Promised Land," a Focus Features release. Credit: Focus Features
It goes without saying that Matt Damon is one of the most versatile actors in the film business. He's proven himself as an action hero (the "Bourne" trilogy), romantic lead ("We Bought A Zoo"), in costume dramas ("True Grit"), spy flicks ("Syriana"), caper films (the "Ocean's" series) science fiction ("The Adjustment Bureau"). Plus he's an Oscar winner, thanks to the screenplay he co-wrote with buddy Ben Affleck for "Good Will Hunting."
Now, in "Promised Land," the 42-year-old Massachusetts native has taken on fracking, the controversial method by which natural gas is extracted from rock formations. In the film, which he co-wrote with John Krasinski (and is directed by Gus Van Sant), Damon plays the representative of a major energy company, trying to convince some rural Pennsylvanians to sell leases to their land so it can be exploited for the gas underneath. Damon recently spoke with Newsday contributor Lewis Beale.
John [Krasinski] and I were talking about doing a movie about American identity, and this issue kind of presented itself as the perfect issue. It is dividing these communities, and it's a great issue to use to see how we make our decisions.
It was really about the characters... as long as the characters were relatable, and we didn't shortchange them, that would make it work. Ultimately, a movie like this is 100 percent about execution; it's a TV movie if you don't get it right.
The character says early on that he's a pro-industry guy, and he had this argument with his grandfather. He's fighting against what his grandfather stood for , because it's not realistic. We wanted those things in constant tension. We wanted one of those great Kazan characters, with that streak of self-loathing. This guy is angry at these guys , angry at his grandfather, and angry at himself.
What Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo is doing is he has decreed this moratorium, and he wants the science to dictate what he does. That seems to be a pretty rational approach. Rushing into something seems insane, given what's at stake, and given some of the complaints we're starting to hear. Let's wait and see. If there is an industry that's safe and can create jobs, I'm all for it, but we should make sure.
I really try to focus completely on water.org, and the other things I'll do on a more superficial level, but in terms of time and energy, that goes to water.org. If there are one-off fundraisers, like the Japanese tsunami, I'm always happy to help there.
If I look at the role and I can believe myself in it, I'll go for it. Bruce Willis is still pulling it off. Tom Cruise is 50, and looks 30. It's more a question of how I take care of myself. I'm 42 now; I figure I have some time.
It's the full spectrum of experiences from the greatest joy, to sometimes I want to go out the window. Girls engage with the world so differently. The good thing about New York is the parks, and you can go for a walk by yourself.
Most Popular
Top Stories
