Sound of Metal – Review: An Endearing Look At Loss & Self-betterment

Even though ‘Sound of Metal’ was introduced at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019, this film got its wide release in theatres just this November, and in Amazon Prime Video this month, so we finally had the time to sit back and watch the film that was getting all the buzz thanks to Riz Ahmed.

As a quick summary, Sound of Metal is about a guy named Ruben, a drummer for a metal band, who has his life completely turned around when he experiences a sudden loss of his hearing. The film will follow his struggles and his attempts to live back a normal life as he goes to a support group for deaf people. It shows us a man at his most vulnerable & existential moment in his life.

This is, without a doubt, a heavy & personal drama with a solid story, that will have you immersed in its experience.

Riz Ahmed stars as Ruben and he probably gives one of the best performances of the year. It is very clear how he transmits the shock, the fear & the desperation of a man that loses the thing he depends on the most to make a living. He gives a truly emotional performance that is only amplified by his co-stars Paul Raci & Olivia Cooke, the last of which steals the camera every time she’s in it with her powerful & sincere performance.

Director Darius Marder knew precisely the way this film needed to be made & paced in order to fully embrace Ruben’s journey & accentuate Riz Ahmed’s performance to unlock its full potential. From the film’s incredible way it uses sound mixing to allow us to hear as Ruben does and experience his progressive loss of hearing, to the impressive camera work that is always close & personal to Ruben, the film allows the viewer to immerse into an empathetic mode experience first-hand what Ruben is living. Marder created an environment that eases the viewer’s connection with Ruben so one can feel the discomfort & the impotence, to its full extent.

Even though it presents a simple story about a man trying to defeat his most immediate troubles, the film’s personal & emotional structure makes it become an endearing film that features great character growth through the lives of Ruben & Lou.

‘Sound of Metal’ feels really grounded and at the same time unique, presenting a very relatable theme about what it means to lose something that is so necessary and present in your everyday life and how coping through that loss can be one of life’s most difficult challenges to overcome. The road to self-betterment will never be an easy one, but one that will always leave you at peace with yourself.

It’s a must watch for this following Awards Season.

Score: 9/10

For another film with strong thematic elements, an amazing performance & and a solid story, check out our review of Promising Young Woman, by clicking here.