Customer Reviews

The Big Bad Swim

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A community pool in Connecticut is the setting for this "under the radar" film
which is charming, funny,entertaining, and appealing. Although it won prizes
in major film festivals, The Big Bad Swim was not widely released to theatres
across America, but was distributed in DVD form, and selectively shown.

It is unfortunate that The Big Bad Swim never had the marketing muscle of a Hollywood
release, considering how many sinkers Hollywood HAS released this year.
The Big Bad Swim, a genuinely good independent film, has to swim upstream on its own.

In "The Big Bad Swim," actress Paget Brewster is endearing and believable as Amy, the
wired-to-breaking point math teacher who loses her husband and is about to also
lose her job, but then ends up taking a gamble on a new life. TV soap actor Jeff Branson--
who is HOT-- plays Noah, the earnest, vulnerable swim teacher who goes the extra pool
length to help his students overcome their fears, and discovers he can learn from his
students. Pretty, sexy Jess Weixler deftly plays Jordan, the swimmer to be who works two
jobs, one as a pole dancer, the other as a blackjack dealer. Her character provides the
catalyst for change amongst the ensemble, but is the least understandable of the characters,
because of alack of a "back story" or motivation as to why she does what she does. Jordan
is young enough to stilllive at home with a ubiquitous, video camera toting younger
brother who spies on her, but her parents arenot shown to be involved with her life in
any way, which seems odd. There's no drunken mother or abusivefather here to explain
why a normal, attractive girlfrom a Connecticut suburb would choose to be a self
medicating pole dancer who debases herself for loutish bachelor parties. Despite this
nagging doubt, The Big Bad Swim succeeds, in large part, because it is a happy, feel good film.

As one might expect, learning to swim is the metaphor for life, where it's better to jump
in with both feet,and get in the swim, than to sit on the deck, because life happens
to you anyway.

The Big Bad Swim is a great date movie, a great dorm movie, a great "what haven't I seen" movie, and men
like it as well as women.

The premise for 2006's "The Big Bad Swim" is an adult swim class at a pool in Connecticut, at which a young instructor tries to help the members of the class overcome their respective fears of the water. Away from the pool, the camera will follow the instructor and two of the students as they work through personal challenges, the resolution of which ultimately loop back through the class.

The movie portrays a very human-scale story. There are no car chases, murders, or extraordinary events, just people working through disappointments, divorces, deadend jobs, and second chances. Jeff Branson is the swimming instructor, an earnest young man trying to deal with a significant disappointment, the nature of which is not immediately revealed. His heart is in the right place, and we cannot help but root for his success. Paget Brewster plays a high school teacher going through a painful divorce and trying to restart her life. A chance friendship made at the class leads to new possibilities she is alternatively eager and reluctant to embrace. Jess Weixler plays a casino card dealer and hardened part-time stripper looking for an upside to her life, who finds that sometimes, you just have to ask.

The approach is generally humorous, although we are allowed to share the anxiety of the students over their fear of the water and other challenges in their lives. The plot device of having a couple of students present part of the story as a film documentary is only a partial success. However, tight direction and the deliberate, naturalistic pacing of the story carry the day.

"The Big Bad Swim" is very highly recommended as an entertaining and different indie film, a comedy-drama presented on a very human scale.

Funny, warm hearted comedy. Excellent cast. See it! (And don't be put off by the misguided cover art)

Why is it so many lesser quality films draw so much attention, when a sweet little film like this gets left by the wayside?

I bought this DVD for one reason: Paget Brewster. What I discovered instead was a sweet film about people and relationships and taking chances and dealing with our faults and insecurities. Whoever came up with the cover art is selling sizzle for a film full of substance.

Jess Weixler, of 'Teeth', is great. And how many times do you get to talk about such strong female roles? I can't recommend this highly enough.

I just saw this film aboard the MV Explorer where the director (Ishai Setton) was present for a QA afterward. What else can I say that hasn't already been said by the other reviewers? Great story, great acting, and great directing. The characters are genuine and likable and the whole film has a "real" feel about it. Hollywood is rarely able to put anything together like this. Give it a watch. I know I'm looking forward to more of Ishai's work.

This movie sneaks up on you. As someone who has always been terrified of water and failed a few swim classes, and as someone who's taken (and taught) quite a few adult ed classes, I was able to relate to the film.

The director picks up the mood of the class...uneasy camaraderie and surprising friendships. We see the characters growing and changing through their whole lives as they engage in the class. Tbere's a lot of truth here: as people get stronger physically, they get stronger emotionally. I've seen this happen at the gym.

I don't agree with the reviewer who objected to incomplete story lines, such as the angry man who leaves or the mom who never returns to class. These incidents make the film real. You get students like those in just about every class.

Spoiler alert:

I was surprised at the outcome. In most swim classes, at least one person doesn't conquer his or her fear. When I took swim classes, I was the one who never got it. But I loved this film.

Being one who enjoys following up-and-comers, this movie was great to watch. The story moves seemingly slow at times, only because it's less dramatized than Hollywood tends to make theirs. Which happens to be what's so appealing about this flick as well. Great characters, great actors, and a great story are all included.

Fantastic movie, it manages to keep it humerous while going through all the different aspects of a great film! Good job Ishai and Ian! And good job to all the cast and crew! truely spectacular!

I saw this movie on the festival circuit and fell in love with it. It is a great film that really makes you feel good after watching it. For a low budget film, it is really well done and acted. Jess Weixler, who won an acting award at this year's Sundance, is very good in this film. I would suggest picking this up as a movie that you can watch more than once and still enjoy.

A quiet, warm - yet sad, touching character study. Nicely done, especially the cinematography.