Dust to Glory (2004)

60% of critics liked it
(68 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(2,746 ratings)

Documentary filmmaker Dana Brown, who created a visually striking look at the world of surfing in 2003's Step Into Liquid, hits dry land running in this portrait of the world of off-road racing. The Baja 1000 is one of the world's premier desert racing events; taking place both on and off the roads… More Documentary filmmaker Dana Brown, who created a visually striking look at the world of surfing in 2003's Step Into Liquid, hits dry land running in this portrait of the world of off-road racing. The Baja 1000 is one of the world's premier desert racing events; taking place both on and off the roads in and around Baja California, the annual road rally pits drivers against punishing conditions as they attempt to cover the thousand-mile course in 36 hours or less. With a wide variety of different vehicles competing -- from modified trucks to stock Volkswagens -- Dust to Glory takes viewers into the middle of the race, with camera crews following in the action while several drivers race with cameras mounted to their cars for a "you are there" perspective. Dust to Glory also puts a special focus on driver Mike "Mouse" McCoy, who hopes to achieve a unique distinction as one of the first drivers to drive the entire one-thousand-mile course by himself (most vehicles employ a team of drivers for the long and demanding race). Dust to Glory director Dana Brown is the son of Bruce Brown, director of such legendary sports films as The Endless Summer and On Any Sunday. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Dana Brown
Genres: Documentary, Action & Adventure, Sports & Fitness

In Theaters: Apr 1, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Aug 23, 2005
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contestants have 32 hours to finish the race, and unless off-road racing is your thing, Dust to Glory can sometimes feel like it lasts about that long.
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
As with Step into Liquid, Brown proves in Dust to Glory that the thrill of high-speed racing can be shared by fans and non-fans alike.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
I can't say Dust to Glory... qualifies as a great documentary, but it chronicles an event that speaks to the raw instinct to face a challenge and conquer it.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Brown does a very good job of getting across the daredevil thrill of it all.
Michael Senft, Arizona Republic
The race becomes a metaphor for life, in which finishing builds camaraderie and victory is not the ultimate goal.
Kevin M. Williams, Chicago Tribune
Too many stories touched upon, none in sufficient depth to really galvanize. So you wind up with a 90-minute Baja 1000 commercial, set to music and cliches.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Dust To Glory" is a satisfying thrill ride that allows the viewer to experience the raw excitement of a race that few people have the stones or mental wherewithal to participate in.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
If its bowel-shaking race scenes don't capture your attention early on, there's little further down the road that will.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Brown lays the sentimentality on so much that it almost brings the whole production down. Luckily there's lots of tremendous shots and a solid story to keep it going.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
One needn't be an auto racing fan to appreciate the athletes depicted in Dana Brown's intriguing documentary about the Baja 1000 off-road race.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The images from this wild race are spectacular at times.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
A total hodge-podge of relatively random footage from the Baja 1000.
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
Dust to Glory is a valentine from a committed fan, full of gee-whiz idolizing that -- for this viewer, anyway -- quickly wears thin.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Short of attending in person, Dust to Glory is the best way to experience what one driver called 'a 24-hour plane crash.'
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
Director and chief cheerleader Dana Brown averages almost one hyperbole per mile in his souped-up infomercial.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
Could be more tightly focused, but its funny, audacious and profoundly exciting moments are abundant enough to keep it running.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
While accidents are awful (even when they take place off camera), they do clarify the risk involved here.
Peter Debruge, Miami Herald
Exhilarating.