Sound of Metal might trick one into thinking it's a deep dive into heavy metal. Don't worry, though, metal skeptics—10 minutes in and you can start turning up your television without worry.
Drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed of Nightcrawler) tours the country with his -singer-girlfriend Lou (Ready Player One's Olivia Cooke). He trades a life of drug addiction for a life of metal drumming, but at not-even-30, Ruben's hearing diminishes to near-deafness. Unsure how to communicate with the world, he finds a community run by a deaf-advocate named Joe (Paul Raci) who tries to guide Ruben not only to accept what he's lost, but also to find gains. Easier said than done, however.
Director Darius Marder's first feature is a European-styled, patiently told story portrayed through Ahmed's expressions of mental anguish and featuring some of the most noteworthy sound design in recent years. Often overlooked, sound is easy to note when it's bad, but when was the last time your stream ended or you left the theater and you thought "Wow, what a great mix?" Sound of Metal takes that oft-overlooked element and creates a work of art, as noteworthy as cinematography or visual effects. We're dropped both in Ruben's decaying hearing while also being reminded of of the world around us every day, a sense we often give little thought.
It helps, too, there's a commitment to avoid classic stereotypes. People with disabilities can often be presented as angelic figures with a Buddhist view of living. Rather, Sound of Metal highlights the complexities within that community, to note the good and bad, and whether we ought to accept jarring change or to fight like hell for a chance at normalcy.
Whether or not Sound of Metal is truly about processing of loss or is a spiritual journey, the audience can figure out on their own. Ahmed's performance justifies the time spent, and an award-worthy sound design makes Sound of Metal truly one of the bravest releases of the year, if for its ideas alone.
8
+Sounds & performances are top notch
– Not enough Olivia Cooke
Sound of Metal
Directed by Marder
With Ahmed, Cooke, and Raci
Amazon, R, 121 min.