The Swearing Jar

Went in expecting a generic movie and came away being blown away. The acting and cinematography is above the majority of movies out there and the script makes it very believable.

I've never lived through a situation like the one that is portrayed in the movie, but if you have I can just imagine how hard hitting this film is.

It's not happy, sad or funny, it's just about life. I highly recommend it.

Went in expecting a generic movie and came away being blown away. The acting and cinematography is above the majority of movies out there and the script makes it very believable.

I've never lived through a situation like the one that is portrayed in the movie, but if you have I can just imagine how hard hitting this film is.

It's not happy, sad or funny, it's just about life. I highly recommend it.

Honestly what a lovely surprise. It wasn't anything I expected and we all loved this movie. You know how you sometimes see. Movie and think to yourself that you're going to see a these actors a bunch more going forward? I remember thinking that in Boogie Nites. I expect the same to be true with this one. Wiithout a doubt I expect to see a these actors and director more over the next few years. I had a some idea going in cause I'd also heard the play was fantastic.

Not to mention that as much of a nerd as I am I was so happy to not see another marvel movie. More movies like Swearing Jar please!

This actually develops into a touching and complex story. But it takes a while to clarify the lines, so that if feels like nothing is quite happening for a little too long (despite some very original pieces right at the start). I'm not sure how much the unresolved confusion is meant to put the viewer off the track and how much is failure to think through the exposition, but I almost bowed out early a number of times. The story as it shapes up touches on some important themes of grief and recovery, but then it becomes a little predictable as well. It's also true that the moment Katherine Turner comes in she is so much stronger a presence than anyone else that it puts the otherwise engaging indie actors at a disadvantage. There is some good music, well-placed, but it only comes in and out. It never quite defines the tone.

This movie is like watching a play, and is full of true human nuance of emotions. Extremely relatable brilliant moments explored: humor, pain, awkwardness, and especially love: all delivered by extremely talented actors. The plot pulls at the heart strings, is intriguing, strange and fun. Enjoying, and sinking into a movie like this is what life is about. My boyfriend and I were glued to the string and really appreciated the authenticity in the performances. Kathleen Turner is an absolute channeler and sweeps you up into this world. Adelaide Clemens is mesmerizing, hilarious, and makes an absolutely flawed character, lovable, understandable, and so human.

I love Adelaide Clemons and Patrick J Adams, and now I love Douglas Smith. But I don't love this film and I wanted to. The dialogue is overwritten and wordy, and unnatural. And then there's the halting and stuttering style in which it's delivered. It makes for overly long and tedious scenes being stretched beyond their meaning. It was really annoying.

These are such terrific actors but they seemed manhandled by the writing and directing and therefore constrained or trapped in what could otherwise be a very compelling story. Only Patrick J Adams seemed to be able to get beyond these shackles. He's natural and engaging and able to allow his quiet subtext to roar without drawing attention to it. I wish his role had been larger. And I wish the other two very talented actors could have done the same. It's my impression that they weren't allowed.

Adelaide Clemons (and I didn't know this) has a beautiful singing voice and her songs, sprinkled through the narrative, are effective even when the narrative isn't. There are a few really strong moments but they're just too few to elevate this film to the "must see" level. Most of the scenes are just way too drawn out and just have way, way, too many words in them. The script seems like something that sounded really good in the writer's head, or looked good on paper, but does not sound right on people. They just don't talk this way in real life.