AFI FEST film review: 'Sound of Metal'
With a brilliant sound design and a commanding lead performance, the drama 'Sound of Metal' (screening during AFI FEST 2020) is an experiential and visceral journey into silence.
In short: Recovering drug addict Ruben (Riz Ahmed) has finally achieved balance in his life as the drummer in a rock band - when his life is upended after his hearing rapidly deteriorates.
'Sound of Metal' could only have worked if it succeeded in making the audience truly feel Ruben's experience. The film couldn't just inform the audience 'Ruben could hear and now he can't' - it had to make the audience painfully and keenly cognizant of the horror of sudden, irreversible hearing loss. The total loss of a sense acutely appreciated when its gone. Thankfully 'Metal' achieves this will an immersive sound experience and a powerful lead performance.
From the very outset, 'Metal' makes the very specific and intentional decision to add closed captions to the film. It's the first sign that 'Metal' is profoundly keyed into the culture of deafness. The film doesn't try to treat the hearing disabled as anything other than simply normal people trying to live their lives, except without the benefit of one primary sense. 'Metal' is less interested in crafting some feel-good story about overcoming adversity. On the contrary, the film has a lot more in common with the stages of grief than trying to force some well-intentioned inspirational sentiments.
'Metal' makes Ruben's plight real with a creative sound mix that lets the audience approximate Ruben's experience with sudden hearing loss. Sound is muffled, distorted or sometimes just not there - degrading more and more in parallel with Ruben's hearing loss. Just having basic conversations or using a phone become difficult to outright impossible for a character who, only days earlier, had been able to do both without any issue. Frankly, this device is so effective that it's chilling. And as Ruben's hearing changes, it's also the best insight into empathizing with the increasingly desperate musician.
Ahmed is a raw nerve - he is the sheer embodiment of rage, denial and frustration. His powerhouse performance is every bit as raw, nuanced and thunderous as any drum solo. Ruben is a recovering addict and a musician unable to hear the very music he's playing - and Ahmed's desperate, wild eyed performance early in the film keeps the audience on edge and unsure what Ahmed is capable of doing.
Final verdict: 'Sound of Metal' is exactly the type of film cinema was created for - a compelling visual and auditory experience that absolutely puts the audience in the shoes of its troubled protagonist.
Score: 4/5
'Sound of Metal' screens at AFI FEST and streams on Amazon Prime starting Dec. 4. This drama is rated R for language throughout and brief nude images and has a running time of 130 minutes.
