The Sound of Metal
“Sound of Metal”
Alright folks its Oscar Season!!! So unfortunately for you guys I’m will be watching as many of the Best picture nominees that I can before the awards that I can. Prior to the nominations being announced I had already given you a review on Nomadland which just like this movie is nominated for 6 Oscars as well. I believe both are VERY well deserving of their nominations. Sound of Metal can be seen on VOD or streamed for free if you have an Amazon Prime account. First off I REALLY liked this movie a lot. The film is well written and directed by Darius Marder. He tells a very upsetting story of a Heavy-Metal drummer played by Riz Ahmed(Best Actor Nominee) who finds himself to be going deaf at an alarming rate.
The film begins with a rock show played by Ruben on drums and his girlfriend Lou on vocals in a dirty little hole in the wall in Missouri no less. Very punk rock setting then BOOM!!! We are in the RV the morning after seeing Ruben and Lou very much alter-ego lifestyle and very quiet surroundings. They seem to be in a very good place and content. This in any good story and especially this one where IT hits the fan. Ruben starts to suddenly get huge waves of hearing loss. Lou after much convincing talks Ruben into going to place for newly deaf people to learn to communicate. The teacher at the school Joe played masterfully by Paul Raci(Best supporting actor nominee) takes in Ruben and a journey begins. That the premise and that is all you need to know without spoiling anything else.
This Movie has excellent writing AMAZING acting performances and a very upsetting situation. I may not be a huge Heavy-Metal guy though I do like it. I love music though and I cant imagine losing my hearing and having that taken from me. Its hard to think of how much it would affect a true musician. Like some of the other movies Ive reviewed its not a super warm and fuzzy flick. It is however a very good one that explores someone else's very real journey on this giant spinning rock out in space. The sound(Best sound Nominee)hilariously enough in a movie about hearing loss is great and at times eerily haunting. I VERY much hope Darius Marder wins for Best Supporting Actor for me though Riz Ahmed’s performance is very worthy of a Best Actor win as well Marder’s performance is the best in this film. I hope this movie takes home some gold this awards season it deserves to win something for sure. Final verdict a definite WATCH for any serious movie lover. I give it 4.5 out of 5 Yellow Suckers
*This movie review was originally published in The Current River Observer as the River Reels article written by Jeffrey Riggs
