Saltwater

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Dec 14 2012

Director Charlie Vaughn (Vampire Boys) and actor/screenwriter Ronnie Kerr (Shut Up & Kiss Me, Regarding Billy) teamed up for this American Indie drama that follows several endearing characters as they wade through life ? seeking happiness, peace and ultimately, love.

Will (played by screenwriter Ronnie Kerr himself) leaves the Navy after many years spent in Iraq. Once home, he reunites with old friends and begins to start his new civilian life. His roommate Rich (Bruce L. Hart) tries to set him up with the ruggedly handsome Aussie transplant Josh (Ian Roberts). The two seem to have great chemistry at first, but an argument over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" quickly drives a wedge between them. Josh thinks it's important to be out and proud in every situation, while Will doesn't feel like his homosexuality defines him or needs to be addressed with strangers. By the end of their first date, romance doesn't seem to be in the cards. However, when a shocking tragedy occurs, the two are unexpectedly paired up and to get along for the sake of a mutual friend. After some initial friction, sexual attraction works it's magical power and Will and Josh find that they're not so different after all.

While the acting in Saltwater can seem amateurish at times, the cast is committed and visibly having fun with their roles. With a hunky, muscular body and the face of a cherub, Ronnie Kerr is endlessly watch-able and truly adorable as Will while newcomer Ian Roberts ? an openly gay Australian rugby player making his American film debut ? is very surprisingly assured considering his lack of experience. Charlie Vaughn also acquits himself nicely. He manages to put together a strong, satisfying romance on a shoestring budget with minimal locations.

Saltwater is, ultimately, a story about men of different ages and temperaments finding love, losing friends, navigating their way through life and learning that it is the journey rather then the destination that proves most important. That is a lesson that everyone can take to heart.

By: movie buff

I rented this movie mostly for the main actor. I have seen him in other movies, so thought to give it a try and....what a mistake!!! movie is soooo borriinnggg.......bad plot....horribly acting and just a waiste of time. Too bad American directors and producers keep supporting this kind of bad gay filmmaking,,,,for some a lot reasons I think European and south American gay theme movies are way better than the ones made here......producers need to pay more attention to scripts rather than having an excuse to keep making shitty movies based on the actors abilities to act and mostly based on their looks

By: Rob in Asia

By: bill

a much better film than a lot of what ariztical puts out - the main characters do a fine acting job in this one. I'm only sorry that I didn't realize earlier that this film was out and available; watching this is a nice way to spend time on a lazy Sunday afternoon. you won't disappointed with this one.

By: Amos Lassen

"Saltwater"

A Look at Us

Amos Lassen

I first heard about "Saltwater" about a year ago through a chat with Ronnie Kerr, the owner of Kerrdog Production Company that produced this film. I had sent Kerr a note telling him how much I enjoyed an earlier film of his, "Shut Up and Kiss Me". Now "Saltwater" is here and it was worth waiting for. Although the theme may sound familiar, you will be surprised just how different this film really is and I honestly enjoyed every minute. It is a gay romantic comedy written and produced by Kerr and directed by Charlie Vaughn and it follows several characters that make their ways through gay life looking for love, happiness and peace. (We have all been there, haven't we?). So what makes this different from a hundred other gay movies?

Not all of our characters are the young good-looking boys that we so often see on the screen. We not only have men of all ages but we see intergenerational relationships and this is something that has been missing from the canon of gay film. Our characters are those we can identify with and, dare I say, even love. In fact, I am willing to say that every viewer will find something of himself in the movie. It is really good to see diversity in gay film and it is about time.

Kerr is Bill, Ian Roberts (yes that Ian Roberts-the Rugby player who came out a few years ago) is Josh and this is his first time playing a gay man on screen. They are joined by other actors that include Justin Utley, Bruce Hart, Will Bethencourt, Jonathan Camp, Russell Dennis Lewis, Brent Henry and John Stokkeland.

The story revolves around the suicide of a friend of the characters' as well as their trying to find love when everything seems to be going against them. The title refers to tears (that are salty) and the fact that the setting is in a place surrounded by saltwater as well as the sweat that is induced when one tries too hard.

Will (Kerr) leaves the Navy after any years and wants to resume his civilian life. He meets up with Rich (Hart) who tries to arrange a meeting between him and Josh (Roberts) and when the two do meeting they really hit it off. There are problems and they are that the timing is wrong as well as what each expects from the other do not seem to match. It took a catalyst that them to deal with their own lives and deal with something that was not expected so that each man could face his true self. As they go through dealing with tragedy they find themselves and each other.

It is the diversity seen in the film that makes it so special. We see the gay community as it is and not fictionalized for the silver screen. We know that we come in all ages, sizes and colors and some of us are hairy, some of us are smooth and some of us are bald. It is so nice to see a film that represents us all instead of a glamorous, untrue look. Kerr tells us, "a lot of time when you see gay film, it is 20-something guys doing all the things we did when we were 20-something, but there is life after 30. I'd really like to show there is a life for you (30- and beyond- gays)"... "Some of the films that are out where guys are running around having sex and doing may make some very interesting stories; I just think there are other stories to be told. So, that is the bigger reason for writing these pieces".

The cast is uniformly excellent so it is impossible to point to a standout performance. However, I must mention Bruce Hart as Rich, the matchmaker who has that certain "I don't know what" quality that is so endearing.

"There is one character in the film (and I am not naming him) who reiterates to his friend 'the cure for anything is saltwater, which is (found in) tears, sweat or the sea.' And, you do find these different characters in the film dealing with those three elements in order to sort of quench the pain that they are going through".