Waterproof (2000)

A mother flees to her hometown after her son gets into trouble.

Director:

Barry Berman

Writer:

Barry Berman

Stars:

Whitman Mayo, April Grace, Burt Reynolds

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Whitman Mayo	...	Sugar
April Grace	...	Tyree Battle
Burt Reynolds	...	Eli Zeal
Cordereau Dye	...	Thaniel Battle
Brandon Crawford	...	Gang Kid #1
Ja'net DuBois	...	Viola Battle
Orlando Jones	...	Natty Battle
Anthony Lee	...	'Brother Big' Battle
Lou Criscuolo	...	Garage Manager
Al Wiggins	...	D.C. Detective
Gil Johnson	...	Chris Hardwick
Leland L. Jones	...	Rev. Ferris Grouse (as Leland Jones)
Darrell Harlee	...	Church Piano Player
Joe Inscoe	...	Dr. Austin
Whitney Tucker	...	Tyree, 6 years old

Storyline

Eli Zeal is a bitter Jewish shopkeeper who is shot during a hold-up attempt by the 11-year-old son of a single mother in Washington, DC. Distraught and with nowhere else to turn, the boy's mother Tyree Battle kidnaps the wounded Zeal and along with her son, flees to her small hometown of Waterproof, Louisiana - and a family she hasn't seen in years. Thrust into the unfamiliar world of the deep south, Zeal finds himself surrounded by Tyree's brothers - one battling a severe brain injury, the other an angry alcoholic - her hundred year old grandfather and a mother of irrepressible faith. But, as they work to nurse Zeal back to health, dark shadows begin to emerge from the family's past - forcing them to confront a dreadful secret that has torn them apart.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | gunshot wound | church | christian | independent film | 

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Taglines:

Eli Zeal is about to learn that to err is human... and to forgive divine.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of violence

Details

Official Sites:

Cloud Ten pictures [Canada]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Toda Prova

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cape Fear Filmworks, Interstate 40 Feature Film Company, Lightmotive

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Newman, 'Jack Lemmon' and Gene Hackman were originally up for the role of Jewish store owner Eli Zeal.

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Quotes

Tyree Battle: [referring to Eli's bleeding arm] Thaniel, give me something to tie off this!
Thaniel Battle: [from car's back seat] Like *what*?
Tyree Battle: Like anything, but - Take your pants off and lean up here!
Thaniel Battle: No way!
Tyree Battle: Don't *push* me, boy!
Eli Zeal: *Now* he's pushy?
Thaniel Battle: [wrapping pants around Eli's arm] Am I going to jail, Mama?
Tyree Battle: [shouting, semi-staccato] If you *live* that long!

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, there is a shot of Eli Zeal's Jewish store. On the front window is a sign that says "For Sale"

User Reviews

Drama and Laughs

I highly recommend "Waterproof" as a dramatic movie with a lot of good laughs.

Burt Reynolds is Eli, an aging, limping Jewish shopkeeper in D.C. when he is suddenly robbed at gunpoint by a ten-year-old boy and two thugs who put him up to it. The gun goes off and Eli is injured. By coincidence, the young boy's mother is driving by in her cab, she sees her son and begins a cleanup effort. She basically kidnaps Eli and takes everyone down to Louisiana to her hometown which she hasn't visited since she was a teenager.

The kidnapping takes a very unique twist as Eli finds some comforts living with the mother's mother, brothers and grandfather. The grandfather, played by Whitman Mayo ("Grady" from Sanford & Son), is a scene-stealer every time he is on the screen. He concocts a remedy for Eli's gunwound made of spider legs, he says. That plus Eli has to watch nine consecutive sunrises and he'll be all healed up.

This is a beautiful tale wonderfully told. No special camera angles, very little violence, just people dealing with people. I agree with the other people posting that the Christian message is a little heavy-handed, but the rest of the story is a welcome break from the usual Hollywood style.

I rate this movie 10 out of 10. It is at once serious and funny. No matter what mood you're in, you'll probably like it, as long as you can get past the "go to church and that will make you a good person" stuff.