Waterproof

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+

Burt Reynolds as an old Jewish man? Yes, it works. The movie is an inspirational tale of forgiveness and redemption, of faith and hope. For those who think of Burt as the Bandit, or in movies like Cannonball Run, then this movie will surprise you. It is a tale of Americana -- from the big Eastern cities to the rural south. It touches on racial prejudice and mistrust, and how we can overcome such things. It's about family -- the good and the bad of family -- and about not having a family. It's about faith and trust -- in God and in ourselves. And most of all, it's about the need to be forgiven -- and the need to forgive. Watch this with the whole family.

I disagree with the people here who said the Christian message was too bold. It fit right in with the story; some people in this world really do live their faith and take it seriously. This movie is about real people with real struggles. This is not fluff. The church scenes sent shivers down my spine, and I cried at the end. The soundtrack is beautiful. This is the kind of movie that should be nominated for an Oscar. But of course it's too subtle for the average movie-goer I guess (not violent or sexy enough).

Waterproof is a very moving film that will bring tears to the eyes of most who see it. The film dissects how family members make mistakes in trying to protect their loved ones by covering up or trying to hide the truth and how these mistakes snowball and certainly dont solve anything. The characters are honestly portrayed, flaws and all and the relationships that are built between the characters, despite the circumstances are sweet and poignant. One of the most important aspects of this film is that it tells us of the necessity of forgiveness and ultimately how forgiveness can set you free. I am glad that this film has finally been released on video and DVD. I urge everyone to see this one! It is a keeper!

This moving and beautiful drama wasn't released on theaters in 1999, and that's a shame. Few people will have the grateful surprise to discover this sensible masterpiece, but if you have a chance and run into Waterproof in a videostore, give it a try.This is a sensible and touching independent film and Burt Reynolds has in it maybe the best performance of his career. Although Boogie Nights remains as a landmark for his career, Waterproof is a film in which he delivered his best performance so far. Reynolds plays Eli Zeal, an angry old Jewish guy who owns a little grocery store. When a ten year old boy shoots him, the mother of the kid puts Eli and the kid inside a cab and takes them to her home town, Waterproof. The lady is scared of the police, so she convinces Eli that she will treat him in her parent's house. Eli ends up getting involved with the story of this family, and he learns more about those people - this young woman ran away from her home due to a secret. She has two brothers, an alcoholic one and a mentally ill. She just wants to get on with her life and forgive herself for the mistakes she made, but in order to do that she must face the past and tell the truth, and Eli tries to convince her to trust her parents and family and leave all the secrets behind. At the same time, Eli, who was a loner since his wife and kid died, discovers how love and friendship, two things he though he had lost a long time ago, may give everyone a better beginning. The movie starts a little bit slow,the first half of the film requires patience and attention, but soon Waterproof develops itself into a climatic rollercoaster ride of emotions.This is basically a story of second chances, of the discovery of love, of how in a certain point of our lives we have to look back and see what we have been doing, and if we want to change. Waterproof shows us how to find this courage to change. Watch this film, it's a shame the fact that it's unknown, because it is the best film of 1999.Burt Reynolds must be proud to have such a classy, terrific masterpiece in his filmography. An excellent actor, Reynolds' best widely known parts were in Deliverance and Boogie Nights, but Waterproof is a kind of a challenge to him.Here you won't find the macho man of Deliverance, nor the cynic porn director of Boogie Nights. Here Reynolds gives a kind, tearful interpretation, of a man who is in need of care and love.