Walking to the Waterline

I started watching this movie on IFC one day and it was so wonderfully done; great characters and story - well developed - it catches the feel of the Jersey shore so beautifully and the people who live there year round and often work in Atlantic City. Not to be missed.

This low-key, wonderful film deserves much more than the occasional showing on IFC. What a surprise. A little slow to start off with, but like a good novel, you soon get into the story. Not that much actually happens. No explosions, nobody gets shot, no spooky stuff. But the feelings are more real than any action thriller could dream of. Tender acting and an unusually believable ending. Top marks!

Anyone who knows the fleeting value of "fame" will find this tale true and funny. I like that Mulhern put himself out there as a writer (of a story familiar to him), and director. I also found the unique shoot location (a tourist elephant on the New Jersey shore)a lively metaphor for the passing strangeness of life. Here's a guy (Mulhern)off balance following the death of his father when he visits the family summer home to empty and sell it. He's away from his current life, swept back into his childhood with gay neighbors who knew him "when." He finds warmth with a quirky woman (Foote)who shows him kindness and genuine regard. I found it touching and delightful. Loved the cameos by Broderick and Flanagan written with smooth economy of dialog showing the cold stone of agency people when you're no longer "hot."

I found this movie quite by accident on the Independent Film Channel on day while I was channel surfing. I didn't get to see all of it that first time...but I made it a point to watch it in its entirety when it was on again. I loved this movie. I wouldn't give it a 10. But I would definitely give it a 7. The one thing I liked about it was its realism. This is the way people are...and this is the way people behave...and this is the way people look. The character development was outstanding and the plot was believable. The shore scenes were also wonderful. I would highly recommend this film to anyone.

Okay, this has the look and feel of a first-time independent film... and that's a good thing, if you ever think about the weekend films with their audience-alter versions.

AND, if you have ever been to Cape May NJ, you'll love the constant background images of Victorian houses! [Making you think, ' this reminds me of Cape May']