Ruben (Riz Ahmed) is a talented drummer who tours with his girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke). The two perform in a metal band, Blackgammon, that is, to say the least, unique. However, one day, Ruben realizes that his hearing, the sense most vital to his ability to continue his musical career, is fading. He must now take the appropriate steps to ensure that his life can continue as planned, but there are more than a few obstacles lying between him and the life of which he dreams. With his life and career full of uncertainty, one thing is for sure, Sound of Metal has never been more important to Ruben, and he will do whatever he has to in order to find his way.
There are moments of pure frustration for the audience as they are nearly incapable of hearing anything other than the muffled mutters of Ruben and the other characters. In these moments viewers feel helpless, annoyed, and incapable of fully understanding the conversations occurring. These scenes are difficult to follow, and that’s exactly what director Darius Marder is looking for. In these moments viewers feel powerless, much like Ruben would at that given time, allowing them to connect with his struggles and appreciate everything that Sound of Metal is trying to convey.
Then there are moments of absolute beauty spread throughout Sound of Metal; moments when the world is crashing down and it’s clear that being able to hear is much less important than one’s ability to see what is right in front of them. There is a particular scene between Ruben and the man taking care of him, Joe (Paul Raci), where Joe is the star of that moment. His facial expressions slowly and deliberately change, presenting the audience with a genuine understanding of what he’s thinking and how he’s feeling. This moment is emotionally draining and leaves viewers no choice but to feel unhappy, a bit hopeless, and damn near brokenhearted. There are moments like this scattered throughout Sound of Metal that flood the screen with emotion. Viewers run the gamut of emotions and feel very much a part of Ruben’s journey.
As a part of Ruben’s journey writers Darius Marder, Abraham Marder, and Derek Cianfrance include a supplementary issue of him facing his addiction to heroin. Sure, this adds drama to the already difficult life of Ruben and his loved ones, but it feels entirely unnecessary. The choice to include this in the film makes aspects of what happens throughout Sound of Metal feel cumbersome. In addition to feeling as if there is too much going on, the addiction aspect of Ruben’s story sometimes overshadows the more important storyline, the loss of his hearing. While it could be said that this additional level to his story adds depth and makes him appear more human, the reality is that it takes away from the already compelling storyline.
Marder’s ability to capture the feeling of being deaf, of being uncomfortable in your own skin, and realizing that life is never going to be what you had hoped allows viewers to connect with both Ruben and the story as a whole. Sound of Metal brings to life a feeling that most viewers have never experienced (and will never experience), losing your sense of hearing. That’s not a scenario that can be easily fabricated and the effort put into developing the very real and difficult situations is clear from beginning to end. Even with the unnecessary inclusion of addiction strewn throughout Ruben’s story, Sound of Metal manages to reach viewers in a genuine fashion.
Directed by Darius Marder.
Written by Darius Marder, Abraham Marder & Derek Cianfrance.
Starring Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Chelsea Lee, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½ /10
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