The Dust Storm (2016) Poster

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7/10
This Movie Deserves an Honest Review...
A_Different_Drummer14 December 2016
... from an IMDb reviewer with 1200+ reviews under his belt who didn't join the IMDb yesterday just to leave behind one single, glowing review about a film he either worked on or, possibly, wanted to work on.

So I volunteered.

In the classic "credo" of the Indie, writer/director Ryan Lacen has created a nice and friendly little romantic tale about two ex-lovers who have a chance encounter (long after their breakup) in Nashville, and then spend the rest of the film exploring both their old and their potentially new relationship against the backdrop of that famous city.

If you are a film buff, you could think of it as TWO FOR THE ROAD (1967) lite. In fact, very lite.

On the plus side, this is a cute semi-sweet romp against an energetic backdrop with the occasional (very occasional) musical interlude. Of the two stars, who together take up some 99.9% of the screen time, Colin O'Donoghue seems a little awkward and uncomfortable from time to time, whereas Kristen Gutoskie -- blessed with a rubber face like an early Jim Carrey -- shines and gives every indication there could be a major star in there waiting to break out.

The editing is also clever, and is used effectively to portray how people actually "think" about their own past and present, so props for that.

On the negative side, this project can never overcome the fact that it is an Indie done on a shoestring. You either get involved with the characters ... or you don't. No in-between.

On a long flight between A and B it would indeed keep your interest. And that is the best thing I can say.

An Oscar, on the other hand (as another reviewer suggested) is highly unlikely.
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6/10
Watchable
julia-3286 December 2019
I'll hold my hands up and admit, straight off, that I watched this purely for Colin O'Donoghue.

Nashville provides a wonderful backdrop with all the colours and music. Unfortunately I found that I had little sympathy for either character. I get what happened but both could do with a stern talking to! Him to cut her loose and her to stop messing people around.

Perfectly watchable though and I quite enjoyable the way the film was put together.
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6/10
THIS MOVIE MADE ME ANGRY
amandalynnebaskin14 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this entire movie angry at Nora and the way she treats Brennan (Colin O'Donoghue). You think he gets the girl in the end? No. If you like Hallmark endings, do not waste a minute on this movie. It will make you sad. I'm rating 6 stars and not the 1 I feel, because the acting and cinematography are good. Ugh! I hated this movie.
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7/10
Tought to commit?
vijaychandrank28 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a movie where no one commits to anything. Lead actor doesn't propose, actress doesn't commit to a relationship, they don't even commit to the jobs they love and atlast the movie doesn't commit to an ending.. There is a lot of potential but it doesn't get any closure. Lot of unexplained things in movie. What lead to breakup, why they never got in touch even if they are creepy enough to stalk in Facebook and why they are afraid to end up together. That being said, I didn't hate the movie. I liked the leads performances especially the female lead.. She is beautiful, funny and emotes well. I sincerely hoped to find closure at the end of the movie even if its a bitter one.
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3/10
NOOOO!!!! I WENT THROUGH ALL THAT!!!
rmccoy061918 June 2018
If you are one who invests into the characters and the significance of why they are even interacting on screen together.... If you a person who looks forward to seeing the hero win.... If you are someone who looks forward to watch something with redemption in a world that gives you darkness for free...... Don't watch this movie!!! They didn't even applaud for the Brennan at the end (for those who have seen it know what I'm talking about. Don't want to give away spoilers just in case you go for it anyways). If you invest anything you literally get nothing in return.
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7/10
feels like a glass of red wine
expe675 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
i liked this movie.it's not original.but when you do something in a good way you don't necessarily need originality.you have two young very likable characters ,you have the weekend parenthesis plot ,hanging around remembering drinking,forgetting,escaping,singing,talking about the future or avoiding the future ,being in and out of love,romancing.what i especially liked about this movie is ..you cannot pin it down.even now i have to think..why didn't he told her to marry him and stay in nashville,make babies.it's not like she did not give him pointers."i'm pushing 30,all my sisters etc. have families."but it's that kind of a movie.and that kind of a weekend.nora is sweet but just maybe out of a long relationship.and brennan..we feel he is a kind of a victim in the whole movie,but in the end nora tells him that he dumped her the last time because he is too afraid to commit.which we understand it's probably true.OK so he commits to stay in nashville to become a singer again.why can't he commit to propose to her?anyway the movie does not tells us what will happen.although probably she is going to get her act together as she promised and marry that David guy so she can be like her sisters.or maybe not.well..i give the movie seven and a half.IMDb does not believe in half's so i state it here.
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1/10
Yuck!
sberube-8679317 January 2020
Keep silent or run away; drink; fight. Wash, rinse, repeat. Boring to the last second with fake drama The guy tries but the girl is a drunkard nut job I kept hoping it might improve but nope. Might as well watch a Hallmark movie; at least you know there will be no surprise.
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8/10
Exes Reunite to Evolve,
jasonmilesinc16 January 2021
Two depressed exes randomly meet in Nashville after not seeing each other since their breakup, many years before. They knew a small amount from FaceBook but their weekend was about catching up, enjoying living in the moment, and making the right choices and moving forward.

Clearly the writer had an ex in mind for the stunning Kristen Gutoskie. She's complicated, moody, unpredictable, and searching aimlessly for love and life. We've all known this girl- the one who's natural beauty and personality attracts everyone, but she keeps people at arms length, even those she loves. They are frustrating and loving at the same time, and will wreck your life. But you still love her for many reasons. KG plays this character perfectly and even though the main arc is about Brennan, you can't help but feel for them both.

But I root for them, not to end up together per se, but to at least be in each other's lives more. Sometimes that's all we get, both in life and in the movies. There's always hope though. What I liked about these two is that they needed each other for an evolution, not as a couple but as individuals. And it works. Nashville is a good backdrop for this type of film because it's easy to have adventures there, and the fact that both mains have a music background is irrelevant. These two love each other very much, but in different ways- and that may frustrate an unsophisticated viewer. Still, you should screen this film. It def deserves higher than its average rating.
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10/10
This movie deserves an Oscar
madigrace-222395 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
'no spoilers' I absolutely LOVE THIS!!!!!!!! First off Colin Arthur Geoffry O'Donoghue is my absolute favorite actor of ALL TIME!! And he is the only reason i watched it. BUT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! The screenplay was perfect, the casting was perfect, the story line was perfect, the acting was perfect, the central conflict was between the characters was perfect, the relationship between the two main characters was perfect. Colin O'Donoghue was amazing, Kristen Gutoskie was amazing, Chris Carmack was amazing, Jessejames Locorriere was amazing, basically every performance was absolutely brilliant Just a reminder, the score i gave is wrong, but they didn't have 1000000000 out of 10. Please Please PLEASE, go see this movie
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9/10
The past, present and future drama
mie-2660121 January 2022
It's not often that I review on this site, but once in a while a movie comes along that touches something deeper than just me being entertained for x number of minutes. The Dust Storm is one of those. Being a fan of Colin O'donoghue brought my attention to this movie. I KNEW it wasn't a fairytale rosy red story I was about to see, and that might have helped me to "accept" the ending. It's tough, gritty, and "right in ya face" kind of movie. The cutting/editing of the movie establishes the mood and feeling of each scene in a spectacular way. The time jumping and warping the past, present and future together in several key scenes is brilliantly done.

Both characters carries boat loads of baggage and more and more are revealed to the viewer along the way, some surprised me, or made me sad. The whole movie is touching and gut-wrenching and will be simmering in my heart and soul for some time. I love how the two main characters are portraited, and both actors does this so well.
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