Written by Sam Clark 

Certificate: 15 

Running time: 120 minutes

Director: Kirk Jones 

It's that time of year once again in which we begin to get a taster of what films will be competing for glory at the Oscar's in March. Last week saw the release of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another which looks as though it will be the favourite and frontrunner, followed by The Smashing Machine this Friday in which Dwayne Johnson is hotly tipped to earn his first ever nomination. I have seen what One Battle has on offer which has left me very impressed but have yet to see for myself what Johnson has been able to pull off. There is one performance that I have seen however, even before I saw One Battle After Another, that I was so knocked out and swept away by that my choice for Best Leading Actor has been virtually locked in. I am talking about Robert Armayo in I Swear. I have yet to see The Smashing Machine and whilst I believe the hype surrounding Johnson and have no doubt he will deliver, it is now just a question of how much. The ball is entirely in it's court as I await it, but it'll truly need to knock my socks off to change my mind. It is also true that 2025 will have more surprises in store for us, but for now, these are the favourites. 

I Swear come to us from writer/director Kirk Jones, most notably for directing Nanny McPhee and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, and tells the true story of John Davidson. John is diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at age 15, during a time in which the condition was largely unknown or recognized in Britain. Growing up in the 80s, he faces constant battles and struggles - even from his own family. As one would sadly expect, he suffers bullying and aggressive hostility, ranging from his parents, teachers and fellow pupils at his school who are unaware of his condition and how to deal with it. John is then taken in by his childhood friend's family, where he builds a close bond with the mother Dottie Achenbach (Maxine Peake). He desperately wants a job to keep him distracted and occupied, the only issue being that no one will hire him. One day, he is offered an interview for a caretakers job at his local community centre.

It is here he meets Tommy Trotter (Peter Mullan), who learns to cope and understand his condition and to whom he strikes a friendship with (not a million miles away from Robin Williams and Matt Damon connection in Good Will Hunting). Tommy encourages John to focus on educating people on Tourette's and make them understand the difficulties, but also the beauties. I Swear then chronicles John's journey to raise awareness, something that still has important and relevancy to this very day. What an absolute whirlwind of emotions I felt during I Swear and what an experience it was. As of recent, I appear to be stuck in a never ending pattern of going into films with the knowledge that they have been excellently received which is always the worst way to go (the possibility of being let down or disappointed is just too great). I therefore went into I Swear (and knew of it's praise) and tried as hard as I could to silence the noise and focus, and make up my own mind. In a year in which we have Hollywood giants such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Dwayne Johnson potentially going to battle at the Oscar's, how amazing is it to say that a small British indie deserves just as strong a chance.

I Swear does so much more than offer a phenomenal performance at it's centre. Robert Armayo completely transforms himself and delivers the best Scottish accent I have ever heard, delivering the raw and profound emotion in a way I did not expect or see coming - but will stick with me for a long time. This is a film that has such an intelligent, powerful and lovely understanding of it's topic that I was beyond overpowered by it. With films like this exploring certain conditions, you have to take great care and consideration in making it, both in terms of appropriate accuracy but also emotional investment for the audience. What's also so impressive is how funny the film turns out to be. For a film about the important of recognizing and raising awareness of Tourette's, it knows where, when and how to also explore the humorous side of it too (as Tourette's is commonly known to elicit laugher as a natural response).

The only worry with this is that the comedy is completely and utterly subjective (as humor always is anyway - but here it's quite delicate), as it is understandable that some may perceive the film to be making fun of the condition and not find what it's doing funny. I did find I Swear funny. In my screening, there was very loud laughter throughout (one moment in particular causing almost the entire audience to howl like hyenas), so it was working for people. But when it comes time for I Swear to explore the hardships and darkness but also accomplishments of his journey, I was overwhelmingly engaged with what was going on, more so than anything I've seen this year. Robert Armayo gives every other performance so this year far a run for their money, but Peter Mullan and Maxine Peake shine just as bright as his pillars of support, the film would not be the same without them. Watch out Academy, I Swear is coming for you.

In cinemas on Friday 10th October.