Promised Land *** (1987, Jason Gedrick, Kiefer Sutherland, Meg Ryan, Tracy Pollan, Deborah Richter) – Classic Movie Review 10,030

Writer-director Michael Hoffman’s 1987 drama Promised Land [Young Hearts] is a deeply pessimistic film that shows the bleak side of small-town US and suggests that the American Dream is one big lie.

After leaving high school, two buddies (Kiefer Sutherland as geeky drifter Danny, Jason Gedrick as basketball star Hancock,) move in different directions. One joins the police force, the other leads a life of crime, until the inevitable confrontation occurs.

Promised Land [Young Hearts] is downbeat and depressing, but is well handled and is lit up by realistic and powerful performances from the assembled Brat Packers.

It is part-financed by producer Robert Redford’s innovative Sundance Institute, and was the first film commissioned by the Sundance Film Festival.

Also in the cast are Meg Ryan, Tracy Pollan, Googy Gress, Deborah Richter, Oscar Rowland, Sandra Seacat, Jay Underwood, Herta Ware, Walt Logan Field, Kelly Ausland, Todd Anderson, Dave Valenza, Theron Read, Richard Matthews, Cindy Clark, Charles Black, Tony Kruletz and Deborah Green.

It is shot in Reno, Nevada, and Utah.

Promised Land [Young Hearts] is directed by Michael Hoffman, runs 102 minutes, is made by Great American Films Limited Partnership, The Oxford Film Company, Vestron Pictures and Wildwood Enterprises, is released by Vestron Pictures (1988) (US), is written by Michael Hoffman, is shot by Ueli Steiger and Alexander Gruszynski, is produced by Robert Redford (executive producer), Andrew Meyer (executive producer) and Rick Stevenson, is scored by James Newton Howard and designed by Eugenio Zanetti.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,030

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