Sound Of Metal Movie Review

This is an article “Sound of Metal” by Marc Primo

Release date: 20 November 2020 (USA)

Director: Darius Marder

Language: English

Production Companies: Caviar, Ward Four, Flat 7 Production

Producer: Bill Benz, Kathy Benz, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche

SPOILER ALERT– Existential issues and disability are commonplace in today’s roster of films, especially when Oscar season is approaching. That’s because those are the same ones that usually grab most jurors’ attention. In director Darius Marder’s big-screen directorial debut Sound of Metal, audiences follow the rocky and often tragic road of a recovering metalhead addict who continues his search for life’s meaning.

Don’t mistake this one as another feature that falls with the same structures as that of 2014’s Whiplash nor 2004’s It’s All Gone Pete Tong. Marder’s Sound of Metal perfectly stands on its own in terms of engaging storytelling and cinematic tension.

Here’s its secret: though the feature is based on fiction, there are glimpses of reality that viewers can appreciate and relate to because of how they might hit a bit too close to home. What audiences are in for is an experiential movie that challenges their senses, emotions, and perception that’s absolutely worthy of an Oscar nod.

Slowly fading into the quiet

Lead actor Riz Ahmed (Nighthcrawler; Four Lions) convincingly portrays Ruben Stone, a recovering junkie who serves as a drummer for a heavy metal duo he shares with his love interest Lou Berger, brilliantly played by Olivia Cooke (Me, And Earl, And The Dying Girl; The Dying Ones). Not clear whether his complication stemmed from the almost nightly gigs of screaming metal fans and pounding drums or due to an immunity disorder, Ruben starts to lose a third of his hearing early in the film. Being the stubborn protagonist, he plays another night of loud metal music only to storm out of the set, go outside, and make sure that he finally hears nothing completely.

Ruben’s disability immediately compromises a scheduled tour for his band Blackgammon and a huge dent in his relationship with Lou. With no other recourse, the couple calls up Ruben’s addiction recovery sponsor Hector who recommends that he visits a sort of deaf camp community where he can continue to battle his demons. Unfortunately, community elder Joe (played by character actor Paul Raci who is fluent in sign language as he grew up with his deaf parents), goes by strict house rules which include the confiscation of Ruben’s keys to his RV, no smartphones, and no companions which forces Lou to leave Ruben on his own.

Soon, Ruben finds himself learning sign language and slowly interacting with the other members of the community. He becomes popular with the kids, even showing off some of his drumming skills in a class. But with all of these, Ruben never ran out of the hope to raise enough money and get himself those expensive hearing-aid implants. This goal was further fueled when upon sneaking to Joe’s office to use a desktop and check for Lou’s emails, he finds a video of his lover struggling with a portable drum machine onstage.

On the brink of desperation, Ruben sells his RV and recording equipment then sets up an appointment for an implant operation, not knowing if he is actually taking the right path to happiness.

More to see and feel than hear

Riz Ahmed’s dedication to his role is evident in Sound of Metal in how he helps viewers understand what it’s like to slowly lose your hearing. His facial reactions to bouts of tinnitus that slowly fade away along with every other sound on the screen convince us how easy his resolve can turn into hopelessness.

Meanwhile, Marder’s approach of giving audiences audible excerpts of how the deaf actually hear static and garbled noise is pretty unnerving as much as Ruben’s seesaw episodes are heartbreaking.

Those who are expecting a film about disability will be quick to sense that there’s more to take in than the difficult challenges of going deaf. Sound of Metal delves deeper into how carefree individuals can suddenly find themselves in an abysmal dilemma with little rope to hang on to and with those you depend upon turning their backs on you.

In one scene, just as viewers might think that Ruben is on his way to redemption, Joe suddenly kicks him out of the community for getting his hearing aid implants. In Joe’s defense, there are too many members to think about who tell themselves every day that being deaf is not a disability. Ruben’s failure to show empathy understandably won’t do them any good. Even Joe’s encouragement for Ruben to help out in the community fell on his already deaf ears. Earlier Joe also urged Ruben to take the time and be still in his study room and write whatever is on his mind as a form of outlet. That also turned futile. And that’s where the chink in Ruben’s armor is. He always found it difficult to truly listen to others who want to help him even before he lost his hearing.

As for his implants, it’s easy to believe Ruben saying “they are ‘bad,” as we also hear the constant static and jumbled frequencies that can give anyone a piercing headache. As the surgeon told Ruben, “you can’t expect to hear the same sounds as you used to” and “you’ll just have to adjust for a while”. For the lost Ruben, it’s sad to realize that adjustments are life’s recurring pangs that he just can never get used to.

Being still in the kingdom of God

It’s best to say it out loud now–Sound of Metal isn’t really for everyone.

However, sitting through its 120 minutes has its merits. Though somehow based from the remnants of Marder’s failed documentary Metalhead with his friend and co-director Derek Cianfrance about a real-life heavy metal drummer who lost his hearing, Sound of Metal turned out to be a masterwork of fiction that empathic audiences will appreciate from start to finish.

The film is a bleak journey into life’s silent characters who take theirs one day at a time without any preparations for whatever may lie ahead. In Ruben’s case, the hero’s transformation happens when he realizes how his false strength can turn against him and leave him without enough room for a rebound.

Oftentimes though, the catharsis is just there for the taking if only we take the time and really listen to the quiet. In the end, Ruben finds himself alone, sitting on a bench, with distorted church bells blasting through his implants. It’s at least comforting to know that relief is within reach once we learn to get away from all of the noise around us and be still for a moment.

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