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Sweet Nothing in My Ear

  • TV Movie
  • 2008
  • PG
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
715
YOUR RATING
Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008)
Official Trailer
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
10 Photos
Drama

Family drama about a deaf and hearing couple who struggle to decide whether or not to give their deaf son a cochlear implant.Family drama about a deaf and hearing couple who struggle to decide whether or not to give their deaf son a cochlear implant.Family drama about a deaf and hearing couple who struggle to decide whether or not to give their deaf son a cochlear implant.

  • Director
    • Joseph Sargent
  • Writer
    • Stephen Sachs
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Marlee Matlin
    • Ed Waterstreet
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    715
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph Sargent
    • Writer
      • Stephen Sachs
    • Stars
      • Jeff Daniels
      • Marlee Matlin
      • Ed Waterstreet
    • 14User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Sweet Nothing in My Ear
    Trailer 0:32
    Sweet Nothing in My Ear

    Photos9

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    Top cast43

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    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Dan Miller
    Marlee Matlin
    Marlee Matlin
    • Laura Miller
    Ed Waterstreet
    • Max
    Phyllis Frelich
    Phyllis Frelich
    • Sally
    Sonya Walger
    Sonya Walger
    • Joanna Tate
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Leonard Grisham
    Noah Valencia
    Noah Valencia
    • Adam Miller
    Rosemary Forsyth
    Rosemary Forsyth
    • Louise Miller
    Bradford English
    • Henry Miller
    Lily Knight
    • Judge
    Jack Laufer
    Jack Laufer
    • Dr. Carl Harvey
    Chris Gartin
    Chris Gartin
    • Dr. Weisman
    Deanne Bray
    Deanne Bray
    • Dr. Walters
    Colleen Flynn
    Colleen Flynn
    • Priscilla Scott
    Steve Cell
    Steve Cell
    • Jerry Scott
    Nolan Gould
    Nolan Gould
    • Mark Scott
    William Langan
    William Langan
    • Mr. Donner
    Shelby Leverington
    • Dorothy Franklin
    • Director
      • Joseph Sargent
    • Writer
      • Stephen Sachs
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.6715
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    Featured reviews

    8RAAMzilla

    What's with all the recent hate reviews? I loved this film!

    I was laying in bed last night, scanning channels and came across 'Sweet Nothing in My Ear'. I hit info and up came that Jeff Daniels was starring, so I figured what the hell--five minutes and I had to see it through to the end regardless of how late at night it was.

    The portrayal of deaf communication for hearing listeners is fantastic, I loved the voice-over approach because personally I find subtitles distracting and obviously not everyone who watched the film would be able to understand sign language on it's own, so I loved how they tackled that problem, it really broke the barrier, and got across exactly what the characters themselves were trying to say; deaf people are no different nor less able than hearing people!

    The acting is great, I was impressed with Jeff Daniels portraying emotion over his son and wife, especially since the last time I had seen him was when he was hanging out with Jim Carrey and driving a Dog-Van!

    In conclusion (to my first ever review on here, so be gentle!) I would definitely recommend checking this movie out as it's heart-warming and very eye-opening. 4/5.

    Thanks for reading :)
    2nmx

    What do you get when you take the dialog out of a dramatic film?

    We get nice close-ups of people's faces for minutes at a time. Every once in a while you can see a finger or hand flit by. For a film in which the standard mode of communication is American Sign Language, shouldn't you keep the signed conversation on-screen? Also, were the actors specifically directed to act deadpan? I have seen Marlee Matlin act very expressively before, so some other force must have been at work. During scenes of intense argument and emotion, even depicting a turning point for some of the characters, we have minutes of camera switches between characters' faces. No signing visible on screen. No facial expression to tell you who's angry, who's hurt, who's sympathetic, who cares.
    SmallTownSim

    Unique and eye-opening drama / Very enjoyable!

    "Sweet nothing in my ear" is the story (told in retrospect) about a hearing man, his deaf wife and his deaf son and the controversial debate over what is normal and acceptable for all involved.

    To tell you the truth, I had not planned to watch this film. Just as a fluke the channel ended up on Hallmark when the program began and as it progressed I was compelled and drawn into the story of hearing and deafness and family and differences and likeness.

    I was impressed and appreciative of the way it was handled... with voices being heard for those signing instead of "speaking" as they sign- true to life.

    The story was freshly told in a way that allowed the viewer to see all sides of the issue of hearing versus deafness. I also frankly was mesmerized by how those who are deaf can be included and participate in so many experiences that I hadn't realized they could be included in such as going to the movies. The whole telephone set/video was so "Jetson's like" and the trivia of all of those in history who accomplished great and every-day things who were deaf.

    At the same time allowing to see the side of the hearing father who mostly was immersed in the deaf world (i.e. his wife, son, in-laws...) and how it excluded him at times.

    Truly, I think that if you enjoy family drama- you will enjoy this movie. If you enjoy Hallmark movies as a rule- you will enjoy this movie. If you enjoy films with emotional conflict and human struggle- you will enjoy this movie.

    "Sweet nothing in my ear" is a great movie. I gave it a 9 because it not only dealt with such an issue we don't always get to see from every side and did it in a way that all sides can enjoy and appreciate.
    10newton-36

    Well done in perspective

    I feel the movie represented the Deaf and Cochlear Implant cultures pretty much in perspective. I myself had an overwhelming decision two years ago to decide of I really wanted a CI myself. I came to terms in my choices and possibilities, even tho, I lost my hearing at an early age of 3, than a year later in my other ear.

    Marlee is a great Actress, she's done things well and the work she performs in movies and television today.

    Sweet Nothings In My Ear - tells the story of many deaf and hard of hearing in today's world where technology can replace one's hearing to almost normalcy as it can be. In the past year since my own surgery, I've become accustomed to sounds I remember hearing as a child, my life changed forever, once I told my audiologist to flip the switch on the computer to turn the processor on - 40 years of amazement filled not only mine, but my mother's eyes with tears of a flowing river you've not seen in many years of life.

    I still have the residual hearing in my left ear today, I lost all the remaining hearing I had in my right ear, over 10 years ago and I never wore a hearing aid again in that ear, until I had my Cochlear Implant surgery last year and the rest is history in the making. I'm able to hear sounds I've not been able to hear for over 35 to 40 years at such normal ranges of hearing.

    The CI itself almost restores one's hearing, but this is as close to what it can get technology-wise to restore one's hearing in a pinch.

    Each person that has had the surgery either has an amazing story to tell after years of being silenced by sounds of the past. If it ain't been for my late grandfather's efforts to try to get my hearing restored as I was younger, he'd probably agree with me today, that history was in the making in our family.

    The story is powerful enough to compile what families go through wanting them to what's best for their own children, even tho, they may not be at an age to understand what a Cochlear Implant can do, but the benefits are there, as for other's its either a wait and see process for them.

    I believe, one day, science will be able to restore one's hearing without the benefits of a cochlear implant - its only a matter of time, when it will happen in the future.
    7jewelch

    Very good.

    Loved this movie about Deaf and Hearing in the family and the love that flowed throughout. Have watched it several times and have determined this to be one of my classic Hallmark movies, along with the 1985 movie, Love is Never Silent. The storyline was well thought out and the acting was great. In addition to the voicing and speaking, I am glad they also included the reality of using American Sign Language in this movie. I thought the voice overs for the deaf characters in the movie were very smooth with their tonality for age and inflections. You know a movie is good when it ends nicely and then you start wanting to expand it more. It was nice to see how the actors who played the maternal grandparents in this movie had gracefully aged from when they were younger in the movie, Love is Never Silent.". Loved it James Welch Henderson Arkansas. 5/8/21.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The subject matter hit close to home for director Joseph Sargent, as he had a relative--possibly his wife--who was deaf.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 20, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sweet Nothing in My Ear (#57.3)
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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