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THE DRY LANDMovie Reviews
Drama about an Iraq War veteran who returns to his hardscrabble existence in small-town Texas and struggles with the aftereffects of his war experiences. Cast:America Ferrera, Melissa Leo, Ryan O'Nan, Jason Ritter, Wilmer ValderramaDirector:Ryan Piers WilliamsRelease Date:July 30, 2010DVD Release:November 2, 2010From:FreestyleRating:RLength:1 hr. 32 min.
The Dry Land played in limited release to good not great reviews. • Christopher Kelly wrote in the Dallas Morning News, "...well-intentioned, if unevenly executed..." • And Michael T. Dennis wrote for Cinema 24/7, "...a strong performance by Ryan O'Nan as a soldier facing difficult readjustment can't overcome completely the story problems and lack of originality..." More Reviews Below...
The Dry Land Positive Reviews (13 Reviews, reviews below)
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "At the center of writer-director Ryan Piers Williams' small, earnest indie drama is actor-to-watch Ryan O'Nan: He gives a quietly riveting performance..."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 81 words, 07/30/10
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Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "A strong central turn from Ryan O'Nan is the primary draw... There's nothing in director Piers Williams' script that elevates this film above others with similar themes."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 129 words, 07/30/10
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...draws upon countless earlier dramas without adding anything fresh or memorable to the discussion. Shaped more for message than for convincing narrative impact..."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 07/30/10
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...writer/director Ryan Piers Williams keeps the film free of overt politics and messages -- but it's impossible to watch the film and not realize that war is folly."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 07/30/10
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...unexpected moments are outnumbered by programmatic ones... Ryan O'Nan's shy, precarious performance keeps you with him to the edge of the abyss."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 07/28/10
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Christopher Kelly, Dallas Morning News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...well-intentioned, if unevenly executed... Writer-director Ryan Piers Williams, 29, (a Texas native) and his solid cast have their hearts in the right place."(See all of Christopher Kelly's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 311 words, 07/30/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...unexpected moments are outnumbered by programmatic ones... Ryan O'Nan's shy, precarious performance keeps you with him to the edge of the abyss."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 07/28/10
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: WEAK(cg) "...painfully earnest... Ryan Piers Williams seems to be diligently working through a checklist of returning-warrior-movie clichés.... well-intentioned but dull..."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 335 words, 07/29/10
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...one more run-of-the-mill veteran-struggling-to-adjust-to-civilian-life tale, the kind that's been around at least as far back as Hemingway's 1925 story 'Soldier's Home'..."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 765 words, 07/26/10
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...draws upon countless earlier dramas without adding anything fresh or memorable to the discussion. Shaped more for message than for convincing narrative impact..."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 07/30/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Robert Koehler, Daily Variety: FAIR "...the combination of crude storytelling manipulation with undistinguished filmmaking proves counterproductive.... the acting towers over everything else."(See all of Robert Koehler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 621 words, 01/25/10
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "It's rough stuff and not for everyone... Ryan O'Nan has obviously poured a lot of himself into the role and gives a fine, if not galvanizing, performance."(See all of James Greenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 01/25/10
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...draws upon countless earlier dramas without adding anything fresh or memorable to the discussion. Shaped more for message than for convincing narrative impact..."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 07/30/10
Michael T. Dennis, Cinema 24/7: GOOD(cg) "...a strong performance by Ryan O'Nan as a soldier facing difficult readjustment can't overcome completely the story problems and lack of originality..."(See all of Michael T. Dennis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 811 words, 06/24/10
17.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Dry Land's reviews are separated by an average 17.4 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Dry Land (13 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Dry Land's reviews cover 17.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 4,914 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 378 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Dry Land Coverage, Volume & Length (13 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 10 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Dry Land's reviews on average broke 10 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Dry Land's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Dry Land (13 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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