IMDb RATING
5.6/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.A boy sets out on a quest to save his ill mother by searching for a mythic figure said to have magical healing powers.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Isaac Cushman
- Cemetery Mourner
- (uncredited)
Peter James DeLuca
- Drowned Man
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
This was a good movie with a good message. It's geared for a younger/family audience but that's not a bad thing. The movie has a point at the end of it and that's better than most movies these days. Worth watching in my opinion.
Though it's a little murky towards the end, The Water Man tackles a hard subject (death) from a young man's perspective. On a quest for hope and a cure for his mom, he searches out the truth of The Water Man legend.
In the small town of Pine Mills, Oregon, there is a local legend about a mysterious figure called The Water Man. Gunner Boone is obsessed with death and draws his comic book. His father Amos (David Oyelowo) is often absent and is struggling to reconnect with Gunner. His mom Mary (Rosario Dawson) is sick and his parents are trying to keep it from him. Jim Bussey (Alfred Molina) tells him about The Water Man who may have discovered immortality. He goes searching with help from blue-haired girl Jo who tells stories to little kids for money.
This is David Oyelowo trying his hand at directing. It's fine. It's not anything special but I'm not going to trash it either. It reminds me of Forest Whitaker who also dabbles in directing. There is always the possibility of improvement and I look forward to it. I find this film a little flat. The action scenes need some more kinetic energy. The climax is a little bit anti-climatic. The story is relatively straight forward with the gentlest of twists and turns. All in all, this is professional work for Oyelowo's first effort.
This is David Oyelowo trying his hand at directing. It's fine. It's not anything special but I'm not going to trash it either. It reminds me of Forest Whitaker who also dabbles in directing. There is always the possibility of improvement and I look forward to it. I find this film a little flat. The action scenes need some more kinetic energy. The climax is a little bit anti-climatic. The story is relatively straight forward with the gentlest of twists and turns. All in all, this is professional work for Oyelowo's first effort.
It's a new family movie on Netflix; the plot is decent and the performances are passable; David Oyelowo has a lot of potential as a new film director.
This is my kind of movie. Child escapism movies mixing with fantasy is where my heart is. I will re-watch The Neverending Story, Mio in the Land of Faraway and Bridge To Terabithia any day of the week. I hold those movies in my top 10 of the best movies ever made.
But this movie doesn't close the deal. It's never truly fantastical or emotional or magical. It has the ingredients but it doesn't take me away on a magical journey.
I had high hopes for this movie.
I wish it had delivered.
But this movie doesn't close the deal. It's never truly fantastical or emotional or magical. It has the ingredients but it doesn't take me away on a magical journey.
I had high hopes for this movie.
I wish it had delivered.
Did you know
- TriviaFirst feature film to be directed by David Oyelowo.
- Crazy creditsThe vignettes of Gunner's graphic novel are shown during the end credits.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Rosario Dawson/Dr. Anthony Fauci/Anitta (2021)
- How long is The Water Man?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- L'Homme de l'eau
- Filming locations
- Oregon, USA(Film credits)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $383,234
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $181,046
- May 9, 2021
- Gross worldwide
- $383,234
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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