Sound of Metal (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Sound of Metal' (directed by Darius Marder) is a life-affirming indie drama that never feels sentimental or preachy -- hard to achieve. Featuring a fantastic lead performance from Riz Ahmed {best-known from Nightcrawler, Rogue One & a host of other recent projects} this film tells a potent, yet surprisingly quiet story about one man's coping-&-overcoming a serious ailment. When the film opens, Ruben (Ahmed), is the talented bleach-blonded drummer for a heavy metal band that plays small venues for devoted crowds. He shares a ramshackle RV with his lead-singer girlfriend, 'Lou' (Olivia Cooke). These two have challenges {$$, him battling his personal demons; though, clean & sober for 4 yrs.} but they seem happy until fate steps in.
While setting up for their next gig, Ruben realizes there's a sudden drop in his hearing; starting innocuously as a distortion {the director lets us hear things from Ruben's perspective}. But the problem expands to the point where a doctor informs him that he only has 20% hearing capacity. He needs to steer clear from loud noises or ... he faces losing his hearing for good. Ruben also learns about cochlear implants, which are expensive but could get him to hear again {personally & for his career}. As panic & depression set in, he & Lou recognize that a drug relapse could happen. To thwart that, Lou finds a rehab for the deaf run by the kindly, but no-nonsense war vet, Joe (Paul Raci). Initially, Ruben resists but, he learns American Sign Language, as well as how to manage his deafness; which he resents. But he can't stop thinking about those implants & how they could be his path back to music ... and to Lou.
Beautiful little indie, this is; a surprisingly quiet character study that follows a familiar narrative trajectory. The director is more interested in exploring the specificity of Ruben's struggles than in creating something brand new for the genre -- and that's okay. Ruben has to undergo every stage of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression & acceptance. Only when Ruben comes to grips with his situation can {not necessarily 'will'} he move forward. The problem that Ruben faces throughout the narrative is that because he regards deafness as a disability, Joe has to keep pointing out that the others at the rehab do not see it as a handicap -- it is simply part of who they are. If & when Ruben accepts that is what forms the crux of his emotional journey.
I've always admired Riz Ahmed's thespian skills in anything he's done the last few years, but here he gives his best performance {and a rare Lead} in a role that requires a gamut of both loud & silent emotions; he lets us see & HEAR his inner-self -- remarkable work. Ahmed learned ASL & drum playing for this role. The man he gives us in the final scene is very changed from the one we 1st met. And just tangentially, his portrayal also helps dispel the image of a heavy metal rocker. Also providing natural, understated, yet powerful portrayals are Paul Raci as calm, tough love-giving Joe, Olivia Cooke as enigmatic Lou & Mathieu Amalric as Lou's supportive dad. Benevolence is abounding in all of these characters, however flawed they may be.
Now despite the films' keen focus on characters, emotions & principles, 'Sound of Metal' is not the most riveting of movies; a touch underwritten. Director Darius Marder, who co-wrote the similarly-toned The Place Beyond the Pines, employs a somewhat colorless palette to match Ruben's rock sensibilities. And there may be a few too many scenes of hand-held cameras capturing moments of pensive melancholy. But I nitpick. 'SoM' injects visceral circumstances with great sensitivity. I love how Marder provides us with sonic insights into Ruben's muffled or buzzy/tin-sounding world by allowing the sound to replicate what he does or doesn't hear; very innovative noise technique. Though the film is low-key and the tone is woeful, it ends on an open-ended, yet hopeful note; a moment of serenity that is finally achieved. We care about what will happen to these characters. That matters.
While setting up for their next gig, Ruben realizes there's a sudden drop in his hearing; starting innocuously as a distortion {the director lets us hear things from Ruben's perspective}. But the problem expands to the point where a doctor informs him that he only has 20% hearing capacity. He needs to steer clear from loud noises or ... he faces losing his hearing for good. Ruben also learns about cochlear implants, which are expensive but could get him to hear again {personally & for his career}. As panic & depression set in, he & Lou recognize that a drug relapse could happen. To thwart that, Lou finds a rehab for the deaf run by the kindly, but no-nonsense war vet, Joe (Paul Raci). Initially, Ruben resists but, he learns American Sign Language, as well as how to manage his deafness; which he resents. But he can't stop thinking about those implants & how they could be his path back to music ... and to Lou.
Beautiful little indie, this is; a surprisingly quiet character study that follows a familiar narrative trajectory. The director is more interested in exploring the specificity of Ruben's struggles than in creating something brand new for the genre -- and that's okay. Ruben has to undergo every stage of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression & acceptance. Only when Ruben comes to grips with his situation can {not necessarily 'will'} he move forward. The problem that Ruben faces throughout the narrative is that because he regards deafness as a disability, Joe has to keep pointing out that the others at the rehab do not see it as a handicap -- it is simply part of who they are. If & when Ruben accepts that is what forms the crux of his emotional journey.
I've always admired Riz Ahmed's thespian skills in anything he's done the last few years, but here he gives his best performance {and a rare Lead} in a role that requires a gamut of both loud & silent emotions; he lets us see & HEAR his inner-self -- remarkable work. Ahmed learned ASL & drum playing for this role. The man he gives us in the final scene is very changed from the one we 1st met. And just tangentially, his portrayal also helps dispel the image of a heavy metal rocker. Also providing natural, understated, yet powerful portrayals are Paul Raci as calm, tough love-giving Joe, Olivia Cooke as enigmatic Lou & Mathieu Amalric as Lou's supportive dad. Benevolence is abounding in all of these characters, however flawed they may be.
Now despite the films' keen focus on characters, emotions & principles, 'Sound of Metal' is not the most riveting of movies; a touch underwritten. Director Darius Marder, who co-wrote the similarly-toned The Place Beyond the Pines, employs a somewhat colorless palette to match Ruben's rock sensibilities. And there may be a few too many scenes of hand-held cameras capturing moments of pensive melancholy. But I nitpick. 'SoM' injects visceral circumstances with great sensitivity. I love how Marder provides us with sonic insights into Ruben's muffled or buzzy/tin-sounding world by allowing the sound to replicate what he does or doesn't hear; very innovative noise technique. Though the film is low-key and the tone is woeful, it ends on an open-ended, yet hopeful note; a moment of serenity that is finally achieved. We care about what will happen to these characters. That matters.