Why it may be worth watching
- Waterproof combines Drama elements in one feature.
- The principal cast includes Whitman Mayo, April Grace, Burt Reynolds.
Movie
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.
More detailsPeople
Cast
Whitman MayoSugar
April GraceTyree Battle
Burt ReynoldsEli Zeal
Cordereau DyeThaniel Battle
Brandon CrawfordGang Kid #1
Ja'net DuBoisViola Battle
Orlando JonesNatty Battle
Anthony Lee'Brother Big' Battle
Lou CriscuoloGarage Manager
Al WigginsD.C. Detective
Gil JohnsonChris Hardwick
Leland L. JonesRev. Ferris Grouse
Darrell HarleeChurch Piano Player
Viewing guide
Is Waterproof right for you?
Who may enjoy it
Best suited to viewers looking for Drama. Its shorter runtime also makes it easier to fit into one sitting.
Content notes
A regional age classification is not currently listed. Ratings vary by country; use this as a quick screening note rather than a complete parental guide.
How it compares
Viewing guidance uses the title details shown on this page; classifications may differ by region.
SCREENSHOT
Title stills—not previews of individual download files.
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Community
Reviews
WuchakExternal review ·
**_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 ha…
Read full review
**_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+
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