If the guys from Always Sunny decided to do an Edward Burns type film, that movie would almost be as good as The Waterhole. The Waterhole is a new independent film that hits DVD on March 29th and is the story of friendships, relationships, life and booze, but not always in that order.
Miller (actor Patrick J. Adams) is at a crossroads in life. He enjoys his job, enjoys his friends, loves drinking for free (and takes full advantage of it) and maybe he's ready for that next step in his relationship. He picks up his girlfriend late yet again and being the prototypical woman, won't get off his case about being late and being at the bar again. To make ammends he takes her to a nice dinner, takes her to a romantic spot afterwards where he has something to talk to her about. He tells her how much he loves her, takes a box out of his pocket and well, what comes next makes the cynically jaded laugh out loud.
Back at the bar he's telling Murphy all about his night and drinking away his sorrows when the third best friend/roommate Jim comes in with news of his own. Jim somehow proposed to his girlfriend and he's getting married. Of course the bachelor bartender Murphy and the now single Miller don't even have it in them to congratulate their friend, but the booze continues to flow.
Over hearing Jim talking to his wife to be, Miller realizes he's now gonna be out of a roommate and all his stuff. And yes that means all the stuff, the TV, couch, everything, but Miller's own bed. So what do you do when you're feeling blue? Hit the bar of course. There he sits alone and an attractive young woman is trying to get the bartender's attention. Miller gets Murphy to help the young woman and she buys Miller a drink. She's fighting with her boyfriend and as the night progresses and the beers keep getting poured, Miller goes home with her.
Jim is having second thoughts on who he is marrying and the depressed Miller isn't helping with his talk about how 60% of marriages end in divorce to begin with and you know that other 40% aren't really happy, they are just sticking together cause of the kids. And now the disappering friend Cracker is back and sober for now.
With late nights leading to morning hangovers, Miller isn't helping himself get his mind clear. With the ex calling and another encounter at the bar with his one night stand, problems keep piling up. Cracker ends up on a bender and everyone's trying to figure out their own lives. Does he stick around and just live around Reno or finally realize there's more to life than free beer and friends?
The Waterhole is a prime example of what indie film can be. It's engaging storytelling and relatable in every way. Anyone who's had their heart broken or cheated on has been in Miller's shoes and only wishes they could have done what he did to the ex. You don't need hundreds of millions of dollars and CGI for a good movie, you don't even need studio backing to make a good movie. Nathan Cole writes words that every man has said or wanted to say to any woman who's done him wrong. Miller, Murphy, Jim can easily be your buddies or the guys you hang out with and have beers with. And everyone seems to know a Cracker in their life and if you don't, you're Cracker.
The Waterhole is life. It's realism on film. It's guys on their way into their next level in life. It's life's decisions and realizing what you have, what you want and what you need. If you haven't experienced a broken heart, you will and will share in the pleasure of Miller's depression.
Indie film can have a stigma of style that main stream audiences don't get or want to see and that's a shame. With more films like The Waterhole, hopefully more people will open their eyes to what independent film can be. Director Ely Mennin and writer Nathan Cole's film is just as good, if not better, than anything Hollywood studios are putting out right now.
Miller: Patrick J. Adams
Murphy: Matt Stasi
Jim: Jade Carter
Ashley: Rebecca Mozo
Kate: Wynter Kullman
Cracker: Joey Klein
Sarah: Jessica Barth
You can follow the film on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Waterholemovie and me at www.Twitter.com/Murraymaker
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