This gritty, rough-around-the-edges story with a serious southern twang proved to be something quite different than the buzz of boredom and redundancy surrounding this film. Following a recently returned soldier, played by Ryan O'Nan, after his tour in the heart of Iraq, this film displays the plain and raw reality of someone dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Using memory loss as a McGuffin that guides the character through the film in his quest to uncover the specifics of a major incident, we see all ranges of the effect that war has on people - friends, family, co-workers, and the soldiers themselves. The film takes a resultant tone, showing absolutely no flashbacks to Iraq, or even anything remotely military, and deals with relevant issues in a timeless manner that could potentially relate to those involved in any foreign conflict. The Dry Land shows some of the most guttural, deep moments of anger, grief, and regret, and though this obviously wasn't what I would call a lighthearted, enjoyable film, it was a worthwhile watch with it's fair share of dark, dry humor. The camera was competently used in presenting the story and never detracted from the characters or plot, but wasn't anything to get excited about. All the actors had exceptional performances, from the more well known actors to the first-timers, everything building up to a great all-inclusive climax. Overall, this film had elements that were reminiscent of The Hurt Locker, Restrepo, and even Jarhead, but it presented it in a way that was different enough to present a new and original piece.
In attendance: Director Ryan Piers Williams, producers Heather Rae and Jason Berman, and actors Ryan O'Nan and Jason Ritter
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1/27/2010
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