Film Review: Waypoints

Big Sky on the big screen.

Montana is known around the country for a lot of things, but making movies just isn't one of them. We don’t have the glossy, Hollywood sheen bred in cities like New York or Los Angeles, and most folks adjust their expectations accordingly when watching films assembled in the Big Sky state—or at least they did until Bozeman-based outfit Confluence Films came along.

And when they create movies as good as (or even better than) any other company in the business today, it’s hard not to feel a swell of hometown pride for Confluence and their latest venture into fishing cinematography: Waypoints.

As the fourth feature-length installment from Confluence, this film sends their cast to fly fish every corner of the map in their most ambitious endevour to date. They end up wetting a line in five of the most drool-worthy fishing locations in the world, including Chile, Japan, and St. Brandon's Atoll. Whether it's hunting monster pike in Alaska or wrestling the nightmare-inducing payara in Venezuela, every scene is shot with the masterful touch of lifelong fly-fishermen. 

But it can't all just be pulling fish the size of tree trunks from the most scenic rivers around the globe—the crux of any adventure-sports film is making the audience care about people doing it. To the relief of plot-craving fish-fanatics everywhere, the team expertly weaves in profiles and interviews, adding depth and soul to the beautifully shot film.

The premier screening is on Saturday, November 9 at the Ellen Theatre: the family show starts at 5pm and the late show kicks off at 7:30pm. Tickets are $12, available at both River’s Edge locations, Fins & Feathers, Montana Troutfitters, Rockford Coffee, and Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures. You can also get tickets at the Ellen Theatre Box Office or theellentheatre.com.

And after December 17, you can download Waypoints and their other three films at confluencefilms.tv—just in time for Christmas.