Sound of Metal (2019)

Director: Darius Marder

Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci

A heavy-metal drummer’s life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.

We take hearing for granted. For many being deaf is a reality. Only when you suddenly take hearing away, do you realize what an important sense it is. ‘Sound of Metal’ puts things into perspective, and excellently shows us the impact it can have on an individual.

Riz Ahmed delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as drummer Ruben Stone, who suddenly loses his hearing. Olivia Cooke stars as his girlfriend, Lou, the lead singer in their metal band. Lou is supportive of Ruben, and is even prepared to stop performing so he can get better.

When Ruben goes to a shelter for the deaf, we get a good idea what the life of a deaf person is like. I also enjoyed the fact the film didn’t take pity on them or made them out to be disabled. Instead, it depicts them as strong and determined, and being deaf simply becomes a (different) way of life. Paul Raci also delivers a very good performance as Joe, the founder of the shelter and the man who helps and teaches Ruben.

There certainly is much to learn from ‘Sound of Metal’. For a film about hearing, it was so deserving for ‘Sound of Metal’ to win the Oscar for Best Sound. I enjoyed this movie very much. The film ends on an interesting final note.

‘Sound of Metal’ received 268 award nominations, winning 91 including Oscars for Best Sound and Best Film Editing. (It also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Screenplay).

Would I watch it again? I don’t think so.