Waterproof
Eli Zeal is about to learn that to err is human... and to forgive divine.
Single mother Tyree Battle struggles to keep her young son Thaniel away from the gang-plagued city streets that he is mixed up in. Under severe gang pressure, Thaniel accidentally shoots Jewish shopkeeper Eli Zeal in a botched robbery attempt. Tyree, protecting her son from the law, kidnaps Eli and flees to her hometown of Waterproof.
Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Budget
—
Revenue
—
Release Date
January 1, 2000
Popularity
2
Director
Barry Berman
Where to Watch
Cast
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
Darrell Harlee
Church Piano Player
Joe Inscoe
Dr. Austin
Whitney Tucker
Tyree, 6 years old
Chuck Kinlaw
Deputy Vizard
Louis C. Robins
D.C. Detective (uncredited)
Gallery
Reviews
Wuchak
**_Aged Burt Reynolds visits a black family in rural Louisiana_** A white shop owner from DC (Reynolds) is injured and whisked away by a black cab driver (April Grace) to her family’s modest home in the Deep South where he stays longer than expected. Shot in October-November, 1997, “Waterproof” was not released until 2000-2001, but it’s a well-done Southern Gothic that respects the intelligence of the viewer. Hours after watching I was able to connect-the-dots and it elicited a ‘Wow’ reaction. This is easily one of Burt’s best roles, but you have to be in the mood for a drama. I don’t want to say much more because it’s best for you to discover for yourself, but the movie’s warm, sobering and revelational. Moreover, it contains one of the best church sequences in cinematic history. If you liked Robert Duvall’s "The Apostle" (1997), you’ll appreciate this. The film runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot in Tensas Parish in northeast Louisiana with other stuff done in Wilmington, North Carolina. GRADE: A-/B+
