10s Movie Review - Sound of Metal

Director: Darius Marder
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Alalric, Domenico Toledo, Chelsea Lee, Shaheem Sanchez, Chris Perfetti, Bill Thorpe, Michael Tow, William Xifaras, Rena Maliszewski, Tom Kemp

Description: A heavy-metal drummer’s (Riz Ahmed) life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.

Review: Losing one of your senses must be a frightening and terrible experience. There are all kinds od ways in which you, as the possessor of all still working senses, can get an idea of what is must be like to be blind or deaf. For example, you can eat in the dark in certain restaurants and there is a museum in Nijmegen especially for people who want to experience what it is like to be blind. But what is it like to be deaf or even worse, what is is like for a musician to go deaf?
For Ruben, the drummer of the heavy metal band he forms with his girlfriend Lou, the problem suddenly presented itself. The musician struggled with a heroin addiction for years and has been clean for four years when he suddenly has a problem with his hearing. Before a show he and his crew are unpacking merchandise  when he suddenly starts hearing a loud beep and all the sound around him becomes dull. With difficulty the drummer manages to finish his performance and has to accept that he has a serious problem. Ruben must raise an immense amount of money for surgery and even if he succeeds, his hearing will never be what it was.
“Sound of Metal” is a gripping drama that stands out from many similar stories because of its unusual approach. Director Darius Marder, who we know from “The Place Beyond the Pines”, tries to convey what it must be like to lose your hearing.at times we literally hear what Ruben hears (or rather does not hear). It is impossible for the man to hold a normal conversation and even the aids he is offered sound extremely strange. Blinkered, distant and alienating. Meanwhile, he joins a Christian-based group that teaches Ruben how to cope with his deafness and teaches him sign language.
Actor and rapper Riz Ahmed learned not only drumming but also sign language for his leading role. His efforts to identify with his character have paid off. Rubern’s hearing problems take a toll on his relationship with Lou. His girlfriend tries to help him as much as possible, but also has to deal with his immense mood swings and tantrums. The completion of their tour could help raise the money needed for the operation.
“Sound of Metal” is extraordinarily intriguing; precisely because it does more than just appeal to the viewer’s imagination. You are immersed in Ruben’s world of experience. The tricks Marder pulls out for this are functional and not a forced attempt to be interesting. Lead actor Ahmed and counterpart Olivia Cooke have an interesting dynamic that is often driven by despair and helplessness.
“Sound of Metal” is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I was really invested in the story and I could totally empathize with Ruben and felt every emotion he was going through. This is a definite must-see.

Rating: 5/ 5