In August, Focus Features surprised many Oscar prognosticators by setting "Promised Land" for release on Dec. 28. The decision could make the new drama a major awards player, if only because of its pedigree: Matt Damon and John Krasinski wrote the screenplay (from a story by Dave Eggers) and Gus Van Sant directs. The first film co-written by Damon and a fellow actor that Van Sant directed was "Good Will Hunting." (The pair, along with ...