The Swearing Jar

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.

Someone else reviewed this film and likened it to a Hallmark movie. I can only surmise they have never seen a Hallmark movie because there is no similarity whatsoever.

It's a beautifully crafted set of snapshots of all the places we go as people during our relationships. It shows us our strengths and our weaknesses, it shows that life has one course to lead but many adventures along the way and we have to embrace everything we can and let go of all that we can too.

Clemens is beautiful in this film, she truly is the epitome of Carey: of all women living Carey's life. She reminds me of a young Michelle Williams. Raw, but cleverly raw.

The direction and dialogue is superb, and I watched it all in one go which is rare for me. If you sometimes wonder about life and love and death and loss, watch this.

The Swearing Jar is a new musical romantic drama directed by Lindsay MacKay. After Wet Bum, this is only the second film she has directed.

Carey (Adelaide Clemens) is a young musician and is in a relationship with Simon (Patrick J. Adams). Their relationship isn't perfect, because sometimes they love each other very much, other times they also hate each other incredibly. Yet they are expecting a child together.

When they can't see each other for a while, Carey bumps into another man with whom she also seems to have good chemistry. This leaves Carey with a difficult choice.

The story of this film was written by Kate Hewlett, who further based it on her own play. Together with the director, she ensures that the film remains faithful to this play. The story only remains on a predictable side and for a romantic drama the film offers little else.

What the film manages to carry is more the beautiful singing work of the cast members, who have a good chemistry with each other, but otherwise it remains a standard romantic drama. For example, after the singing and their good mutual chemistry, the cast members also seem a bit standard when the romance and songs retreat a bit.

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!

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.