Sound Of Metal

UK Release Date. 12 April 2021
Certification. 15
Running Time. 2 hours 
Director. Darius Marder
Cast. Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff.
Rating. 85%

Review.

Sound Of Metal opens with a brutal, pulsating explosion of noise on a bleak, monochromatic stage where every sound appears at the bottom of the screen as an explanatory footnote for the audience. From the intense and mesmeric performance of Riz Ahmed and the arresting visuals, it is instantly evident that Sound Of Metal is no ordinary music biopic.

The film introduces Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed), a drummer in an independent scream-metal band who's hearing starts to fail. A recovering addict, Ruben is paired with fellow tortured soul, Lou (Olivia Cooke). Her wrists are covered in scars from historic self-harm.

Throughout Sound Of Metal, director Darius Marder and sound editor Nicolas Becker employ a variety of innovative techniques to create a truly immersive experience. Subtitles and open captions (e.g. "[Angry shouting]") signpost Ruben's increasing isolation. Sound Of Metal doesn't just show you Ruben's experience, Marder and Becker attempt to let the audience experience it first hand.

There is a genuine authenticity to the lead performance. Riz Ahmed apparently spent several months learning American Sign Language, as well as the drums, before taking on this role. His dedication paid off, with a simply mesmerising performance, one that earned Ahmed an Academy Award nomination.

But it is the dynamic between Ruben and Joe (Paul Raci) that holds the greatest emotional weight. Raci, the child of deaf parents and an addict in real life, is a revelation as the serene leader of a rural retreat for deaf addicts. Completely authentic - a magnetic character - he commands attention whenever he is afforded screen time.

For much of the film Ruben remains in denial, desperate to find a cure (including expensive cochlear implant surgery) rather than learning how to live with his deafness. Sound Of Metal is a profound and poignant portrayal of a man who believes he's lost everything, but through the support of a community potentially finds a new way of life.

Sound Of Metal is an impressive directorial debut. In a year that included Another Round, Dune, Licorice Pizza, Minari, Nomadland, The Power Of The Dog, Promising Young Woman and The Worst Person In The World, the Sound Of Metal is undoubtedly one of the best films of 2021.