Two employees of an American company buy out underground gas rights from farmers

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Steve (Matt Damon) and Sue (Frances McDormand) are sent by Global to a small American town to buy out underground natural gas rights from farmers. Surviving as they are from government subsidies, the farmers jump at the chance to become rich. But during a town hall meeting, a retired professor warns the people of the consequences of fracking, the process that takes the gas from the ground. Meanwhile, the environmental activist Dustin (John Krasinski) manages to convince the town to turn Global down. Steve, who hasn't really given the process any thought because he needs his job, starts asking himself questions, but not the ones one thinks...

With its plot about the industry lobbying against protecting the environment, this movie by Gus Van Sant (Finding Forrester) is reminiscent of Erin Brockovich (by Stephen Soderbergh), by dealing with potentials damages up front. The failure to inform, propaganda, the manipulation of poor people (they are told they'll be able to send their kids to college, saved their mortgaged farms, pay of the car, etc.): everything that can be denounced is covered. Perhaps the movie tries a bit too hard, but it's for a good cause: to stop the pollution of our earth, air and water.