Sound of Metal

UK Release Date: 17 May 2021

Certification: 15
Director: Darius Marder
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff

Rating: 81%

Review:

It goes without saying that Riz Ahmed is outstanding. He rightfully received an academy award nomination for best actor for his performance as deaf drummer, Ruben Stone. Ahmed took time out to prepare for the role - spending seven months learning how to play the drums as well as learning American Sign Language (ASL). He even went as far as to wear modified hearing aids that played white noise into his ears so that he couldn't hear himself speak. A lot of care was put into enhancing the realism of the performance. It's a powerhouse in emotion. Sound of Metal simply wouldn't work without Riz Ahmed.

The dedication put in by Riz Ahmed contributes to the phenomenal sound design of Sound of Metal. The way Darius Marder's direction conveys noise is a masterstroke. Intercutting between silence, ringing, out of tune and clear sound is a fantastic technique. Marder explores a new perspective of filmmaking and pulls it off with aplomb. 

Elsewhere the cinematography is top notch. The simplicity is the charm and allure of the way the film is shot. Every single shot is stunningly beautiful. Dealing with a deaf character, the film does a tremendous job at conveying how he's feeling through shot selection. You can tell when a frame is loud, boisterous and crowded compared to when one is calm and peaceful. 

The ending to Sound of Metal really elevates the film as a whole. Despite having a two hour runtime with some depressing imagery, Sound of Metal ends on a hopeful note. The camera lingers resulting in an authentic, impactful and poignant finale. 

Sound of Metal is an all round powerful exploration on the desire to cling on to your passions despite the circumstances. The film highlights how to deal with adversity, an important message on finding peace.