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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
James
Sara
Raymond Gonzales
Michael
Martha
Susie
News & Interviews for The Dry Land
Critic Reviews for The Dry Land
All Critics (25) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (9)
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A strong first film, and with a better-honed script, Williams should prove to be a director to watch.
August 13, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… -
O'Nan's star making performance manages to hold things together even when the script threatens to tear them apart, while the emotional center of the picture rings with a moving truthfulness that can't help but hit close to home.
August 3, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review… -
It's impossible to watch the film and not realize that war is folly.
July 30, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… -
Williams draws upon countless earlier dramas without adding anything fresh or memorable to the discussion.
July 30, 2010 | Rating: 1.5/5 | Full Review… -
Sincere performances elevate an underdeveloped script and awkward filmmaking.
July 30, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 -
Well-intentioned, if unevenly executed.
July 30, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Audience Reviews for The Dry Land
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Nov 15, 2010A powerful, if slightly overdone, look at the effect the gulf war can have on a returning veteran. This is relentless in its portrayal of a man whose war experiences prevent him from easily resuming his civilian life. America Ferrera is as beautiful as this viewer has seen her in the role of the wife who welcomes back the ticking time bomb that is her recently discharged husband, James (Ryan O'Nan). James fights his demons as best he knows how by drinking himself into a stupor and then lashing out at everyone around him. This felt real. It may not be based on any particular homecoming, but can certainly stand in for a lot of them. It is a message film and its message is important. If you are, or anyone you know is, having trouble re-integrating back into civilian life after seeing the horrors of war first hand, help is available. The returning hero needs to know that he does not have to face his demons alone. Not all PTSD cases end as well as this one did, but not all have to get to this point either.Mark A Super Reviewer
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Dec 30, 2009Cast: Ryan O'Nan, America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter, Melissa Leo, Ethan Suplee, June Diane Raphael, Sasha Spielberg, Evan Jones, Ana Claudia Talancón, Benito Martinez, Barry Shabaka Henley, Diego Klattenhoff Director: Ryan Piers Williams Summary: Upon returning after his tour of duty, an American war vet (Ryan O'Nan) grapples with repressed memories from his experiences in Iraq and the everyday mundanities of his home life -- dealing with his isolation by embarking on a road trip with an Army buddy (Wilmer Valderrama). This intense drama, which also stars Jason Ritter and America Ferrera, takes a head-on approach to confronting the conflicted emotions of the modern warrior. My Thoughts: "It's an intense indie film about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. This movie is sad. The things these soldiers go through is unimaginable to most of us. Ryan O'Nan was the star of this, and he was believable and honest as James. Great supporting cast as well. There are some really heavy scenes. The ending especially. It was pretty intense and you really didn't know which way it was going to end. Just a good film. Some probably won't like it, but I hope more see it."♥˩ƳИИ & Super Reviewer
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