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

Movie Reviews - Venom

Director: Rubern Fleischer
Genre: Action
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Riz Ahmed, Melora Walters

Description: When Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.

Review: Venom is a fascinating anti-hero and (almost) villain in the superhero universe of Marvel and deserves his own film. Is refreshing to give the stage to a villain.
Eddie Brock is a journalist, with unorthodox methods and he will go far to get his story. While trying to unveil the secrets of a big company, he acquires the powers of a symbiote and an alter-ego comes to life: Venom.
Eddie is fighting his inner demon, he hears Venom’s voice in his head. He tries to fight it, but he can’t and he eventually has to find a way to live with it and use it for his benefits. A bit of Jekyll and Hyde.
When it comes to looks, Venom is perfect. “Spider-Man 3” tried it in 2007, but with no success. Here Venom looks exactly like he was created, like he just walked out of the comics. Tom Hardy is a good choice, he has played the anti-hero before in movies like “Warrior” and “Mad Max: Fury Road”. And the film is at its best when Eddie tries to fight Venom, for the outside world it’s like he is talking to himself.
The villain in this film is played by Riz Ahmed (star of “The Night Of"). He plays an Elon Musk type of opponent, the master brain behind the symbiote tests. I somehow never find him very believable as a villain.
I think “Venom” would have worked better if it got an R-rating, like “Deadpool” or “Logan”. It’s too righteous and colors within the lines too much. Heads are bitten off, but it’s never really seen. It feels more family friendly, when a character like Venom should go all out
The action is a bit messy and edited way too much. Too much digitalization was added.
“Venom” flirts with the dark side, but eventually turns to the safe zone. I was so excited for this film and it disappointed me. This is such a cool character and it deserved a better movie. It wasn’t as bad as “Spider-Man 3”, but I expected more.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 165: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Director: Gareth Edwards
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelson, Jimmy Smits, James Earl Jones

Description: The Rebel Alliance makes a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.

Review: Hollywood loves nostalgia and uses it to please movie fans. And off course “Star Wars”, mother of all fan franchises, couldn’t be left behind. With “The Force Awakens” the series got a new life and it’s ready to fascinate a new generation. But we go back in time, before the Death Star was destroyed. And if you want to know how this plan was born, you have to see “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”.
We all know what happens to the Death Star, but we never knew how much trouble the Rebellion had to go through to reach that goal. Leading character is Jyn Erso, a troubled young woman who is asked to help the rebels to find her father, Galen Erso. Galen was taken by the empire when she was very young, to help Krennic build his ‘dream of death’. Galen does manage to inform the people on the outside and that’s where Jyn comes in. Together with rebel captain Andor she is trying to find the truth behind the Death Star.
Gareth Edwards directs this movie and it looks like he was the right choice, after he reinvented the success of “Godzilla”. He gave it a darker look and he does the same with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”. The heroes aren’t as heroic as the characters in the original films. The rebellion still has to finds its way. The film has moral depth and the characters have dimension as well. And the movie doesn’t have a dull moment.
Off course there is some nostalgia present. A cameo from R2D2 and C3PO and the seamless transition to “Star Wars: A New Hope”. But most of all Darth Vader. What a joy to see him on the big screen again.
Not knowing what to expect from this film, I was very happy to see how good “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” actually is. A must for every “Star Wars” fan.

Rating: 4,5/ 5