By Nadia Ranaputri
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| Image credit: IMDB |
Director: Darius Marder
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Matthieu Amalric.
Independent films are really getting the spotlight this time. With many blockbusters and big budget films being pushed back, many indie films have soared their way to the top, as streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max become the most practical way to watch new releases. Films on Amazon Prime specifically always seem overlooked. Despite some being critically acclaimed, I rarely ever hear a lot of people talk about them, which is a shame, because they've got plenty of standouts on their hands, like The Assistant that came out in 2020, or even 2019's The Report starring Adam Driver. But it looks like one film has gotten a reasonable amount of attention. Enter Sound of Metal.
Sound of Metal begins with Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a drummer of Blackgammon, a metal band duo that consists of him and his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke), the singer and guitarist of the band. The two travel around the country in an RV in between gigs, basically living the best live possible. This all comes crashing down when Ruben is faced with sudden hearing loss, which he first dismisses, but ultimately realizes that much of his hearing was gone when he wakes up to nothing but complete silence. What was once a significant part of his career no longer becomes a part of his life, forcing him to face an inescapable situation.
If The Night of and Nightcrawler has taught us anything, it's that Riz Ahmed is an incredibly talented actor that should be appreciated more. He's capable of disappearing into any type of role, and this is perhaps his best performance yet. Ahmed perfectly captures Ruben's denial, rage, and despair, without making it feel like an overreaction. He is able to really captivate the screen, and you're absolutely glued to his character. As so much of the film relies on communicating through visuals, especially the second act, Ahmed is able to convey Ruben's conflicted feelings incredibly well. Watching him be constantly in denial about his condition is heartbreaking, you can see his genuine frustration and eventual acceptance, but it never seems drastic or forced, rather like a natural progression and character growth that feels justified. Olivia Cooke also shines as Ruben's girlfriend, becoming the heart that grounds Ruben. When Ruben's condition makes him vulnerable, she is the one that steps in, she tries to get him to assess the situation and find what's best for him. Though her screen-time isn't fairly long, the script and Cooke's performance allow the character to make a vital impact to both Ruben and the progression of the story.
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| Image credit: IMDB |
One
major aspect that must be appreciated is the sound design. It is of
course, a major element of the story, and the film utilizes it so well.
In the beginning of the film, most of the mundane sounds like a blender,
the closing of a cupboard, and the music from the stereo are
emphasized. There's a reason to this, because once those sounds are
immediately replaced by a muffled buzz, it's sudden but very effective,
it really feels like you're experiencing the loss of sound just as Ruben
does. It's fascinating, yet horrifying in terms of having something so
pivotal in your daily life taken away in an instant. Most of the sound
design in the film can often switch according to what Ruben hears. An
example of this is when Ruben takes a hearing test. As the doctor speaks
through the microphone, all we hear are muffled sounds that don't even
sound like words. Once the camera pans to a wide shot, we get to hear
those sounds normally, and see what the doctor is actually saying. It's
scenes like this that makes you realize that being able to hear is
something we can take for granted. The film often does this technique,
but it never feels repetitive, every change of sound is an experience of
its own. Sound is used as an immersive tool and lets the audience be a
part of the journey. Ultimately, the sound design becomes a part of the
storytelling
Sound of Metal explores the acceptance of the inevitable. If one major thing gets in the way of your passion, what are you going to do? This is what makes Sound of Metal so interesting. It
isn't just about metal music itself, but more of a deep journey into
something unexpected. It's a film about recovery, rehabilitation,
and acceptance. Throughout the film, Ruben is forced to accept his
situation, and it isn't easy. To have something you value taken away
from you in an instant makes you realize that you might have taken it
for granted. It's really about self-exploration in the context of trying
to find a different path when the one you've traveled on all this time
has been completely cut off. Ruben goes through certain stages of denial
before slowly coming in to terms with his condition. And it doesn't
glorify nor treat deafness as something negative. The deafness aspect of
the story is not only used as an obstacle for the character to
overcome, but it's also used as a means of moving forward, something
that Ruben has to go alongside with. The film's inclusive casting of
supporting characters played by deaf actors add to the film's
authenticity, with most of these characters even having vital
contributions to Ruben's journey. They become a significant part of
Ruben's life, and they add to the film's heart.
There's some sort of simplicity in Sound of Metal. Be it from its presentation or its storytelling, it has a fairly simple plot. It relishes on silence and simplicity. It doesn't try to over-complicate or over-generalize the situation, but it's enough to to really tie the audience over and empathize with what the characters are going through. It even manages to create a universal story that many can appeal to. It isn't just about deafness, it's about learning to accept the inevitability and one's journey to recovery. On paper, Sound of Metal might not look like the most appealing film, and it might have fallen into the trap of either greatly exaggerating or even dismissing the subject matter and situation of the film, but it never did any of that. Instead, it executed its subject matter in a subtle yet impactful way, and that's what made it a riveting film. Much of Sound of Metal is pretty bleak, perhaps a little depressing, but it doesn't stop it from being as compelling as it turns out to be. It's a film that relies on the impeccable performances and some visual storytelling, particularly in the second act, which consists mainly of sign language and elevated sound design. I certainly did not expect to be so enticed, the film just knows how to execute its story so well, which is why Sound of Metal is one of the standout films of 2020, and is definitely worth a watch.
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| Image credit: IMDB |
Overall verdict: Sound of Metal is no doubt one of the standout films of 2020. It's a film that's driven by the strong performances and visual execution. Riz Ahmed is a revelation in this role, able to convey Ruben's conflicting emotions and slow process to acceptance without making it feel like an over exaggeration. Olivia Cooke is just as impressive, and despite her limited screen-time, she becomes the very heart that grounds Ruben at his most vulnerable. The sound design is also worth mentioning, as it becomes a significant part of the storytelling. Once Ruben loses his hearing, we get to experience it along with him. It makes the film much more visceral and entertaining. Sound of Metal may not sound like the most appealing film at the surface, but its execution is what makes it worth watching. It never treats deafness as a negative, rather as a means for moving forward. And even then, the film isn't solely about deafness itself, there's so much more to that. It's a film about recovery, about learning to accept everything that has happened, regardless of how one reacts to it. Yet the presentation is also fairly simple without being underwhelming. It doesn't make the subject matter complex, nor does it underestimate the situation. In the end, Sound of Metal is able to execute such a simple story and turn it into something impactful and poignant.
Stars: 4.4/5
Sound of Metal is available to watch on Amazon Prime
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