Drowning on Dry Land (1999) User Reviews

Too much Hershey, not enough Andrews

[endora60 · 6/10 · 12 June 2005]

BEACHES was the last thing Barbara Hershey did with any value whatsoever. Not since her Seagull days has she been much. Usually she only drags down the scenes in which she appears; her co-stars generally escape relatively unscathed, unless they're in the scene with her. In DROWNING ON DRY LAND,however, Hershey manages to sabotage her male co-star, Naveen Andrews. Even an actor with the potential already evident in this '99 film is helpless when acting with a wooden leading lady. The scenes in which Andrews is alone are excellent; those with Hershey are painful.

If you want to see what Andrews was before "Lost," check this out. Just be ready for the mind-death that is Barbara Hershey's acting.

I would not recommend this movie even to a die-hard Barbara Hershey fan.

[loneoak404 · 3/10 · 24 July 2005]

I had heard about this movie, and wanted to see it. None of the local video rental stores had it. I looked on ebay, and sure enough, it was listed with a minimum bid of $3.50. I bid and got it. After watching it, $3.50 was a bit too much to pay. The only redeeming part of it was the last few minutes, man, Barbara Hershey still looks hot at 51! A movie has to pass two tests to get a good rating with me: (1.) A good, interesting plot, no fast forwarding to get past the boring parts. Has to keep my interest all the way through. (2.) A good ending, easy to understand, so I'm glad I watched it. Drowning on Dry Land failed both tests.

Probably at least 20 percent of the movie was scenes that could easily be fast-forwarded through without missing a thing. Long scenes of driving along the highway, or someone simply walking along a road. The scene with the flat tire could be completely excised, no one would miss it.

The ending? How did it end? I couldn't figure it out. I watched the last couple of minutes three times, still can't figure it out. Barbara Hershey walks out of the motel early one morning, Naveen Andrews is sitting watching the sunrise. Not a word is said, she sits beside him and they stare at the horizon. The picture fades, the credits start rolling up. What? What happened? I guess this movie was written so the viewer could make up his own ending.

The movie is now in my trash can. No use to take up space in my inventory of videos.

A straight-to-video film that deserved to be

[heckles · 14 November 2000]

Sometimes (depending on where you live) you see a movie you've never heard of on the video shelves and it turns out to be a peach. "The House of Yes" is an example.

And on the other hand, there's "Downing on Dry Land", a movie that went straight to video and deserved to.

Barbara Hershey hails a N.Y. cab, driven by Naveen Andrews, and having the approx. $5000 it would actually take to do so, requests that he drive her out to the Southwestern desert. On the way down they make decidedly underwhelming conversation. Both seem to be possessed by neurosises which are never really explained. For Andrews, they apparently serve to keep him in a thoroughly sour mood all the time he not only has the fare of a cab driver's dreams, but the company of an attractive and accessible woman as well. Anyone out there feel sorry for him? Neither one properly thanks their "guardian angel", a South western mechanic who apparently can repair a body-damaged Chevy in less than an hour and for free.

Ever notice, by the way, that people on road trip movies always avoid taking interstates - which, let's face it, are boring - and wind up at ramshakle motels - I guess because Super 8's and Best Westerns are pretty boring also.

The only interesting feature of this video was the physical appearance of Hershey, which at 51 was nothing short of astonishing.

Two unlikeable people begin an unhealthy relationship

[merk214 · 3/10 · 12 October 2000]

Two likeable (in my opinion) actors, Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews, play two very unsympathetic characters. Hershey is a batty broad who Andrews, a taxi driver, picks up in Manhattan one night. She wants to hire him to take her to the desert. Thus begins one of the worst road movies I've seen in years. Why these two people would even talk after spending 48 hours together, let alone become romantically involved is beyond me. Their first lovemaking is one of the most ridiculous scenes of it's type. The film's only redeeming value comes from the performance of John Doe, as a friendly, helpful local in the town where the two leads ultimately wind up.

Most unpleasant film I ever did

[pzachlen-37620 · 1/10 · 24 October 2023]

The two leads, Hershey and Andrews, are two of the worst people I ever knew. What made matters even worse was that they were screwing each other. Together they made conditions Hell. His breath could stop a train and she left her panties for me which had a green crusty something in the crotch. Quite disgusting. You would think she would try to hide this ,but NO. I had to hand wash them in the sink of the sleazy motel's bathroom. She and he are Pigs of the highest order. It's no wonder that she does not work often and he has limitations. It left such a bad taste that it became the last film I did in LA.

Enjoyable but strange

[Marie-62 · 8/10 · 5 May 2003]

Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews are well trained actors with a pretty good plotline in their hands but a pretty poorly written script. There is only one defining scene to this entire movie. I gave it an 8/10 because I enjoyed these actors so much, especially Hershey. At 50, she looks AMAZING. The on top of the car scene was a little much but those scenes pretty much made the movie. The ending, however, didn't do anything. It just laid there and when the credits begin to roll I asked myself "Okay, what was the point of all that?". Overall, if you're a die-hard fan of either of these two people this movie is a MUST see. But if you're not, well you might just walk away a little dissappointed.

Unbelievable and dull, Andrews is the only highlight.

[chandra99 · 7 June 2003]

Bad writing, aimless direction, and the constant interruption by inexplicable Indian music make this movie basically unwatchable.

Barbara Hershey and Naveen Andrews have no chemistry whatsoever. Also the idea that this beautiful young man would be attracted to the much older Hershey's lifeless and weird character is just too far to stretch suspension of disbelief. Starts nowhere, and never engages any interest, or sympathy, beyond the unsatisfied hope that something might happen soon. The only bright spot is Naveen Andrews, cranky and withholding as his character is, at least he's interesting to watch and has an inner life and energy even when hampered by senseless dialogue.