I want to be careful in my praise of "Sound of Metal," the directing debut of Darius Marder, because it deals with subject matter that has been at the center of debate and controversy in the deaf community. The experiences of the protagonist, Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed), are very specific and personal, and he doesn't take any particular stand one way or another, but his story does touch on some sensitive issues.
Ruben is a heavy metal drummer and recovering drug addict who is touring the U.S. with his bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke), when his hearing begins to severely degrade. After disorienting trips to doctors and specialists, the extent of Ruben's condition becomes clear - profound and irreversible hearing loss. Ruben is convinced to join a program for deaf addicts run by a man named Joe (Paul Raci). Still in deep denial about becoming deaf, Ruben wants to get cochlear implants and keep performing. He feels abandoned by Lou, who is supportive, but has continued to tour without him. However, spending more time with other deaf people proves valuable for Ruben, and he starts to shift his outlook.
There are two major components that elevate "Sound of Metal" - the excellent performance of Riz Ahmed as Ruben, and the way that the film uses sound. The viewer is often put in Ruben's headspace by only hearing what he does in certain scenes. We share in his confusion as he tries to communicate with others, and his frustration in suddenly being cut off from a big part of his world and coping mechanisms. The strongest section of the film is the first third or so, when Ruben is still trying to function normally with his diminishing hearing, and struggling with the chaotic, frightening nature of his decline. He tries to hide his condition from Lou, and it's only when she takes control of the situation that Ruben is able to get some help.
Riz Ahmed deserves all the kudos he's gotten for this role, playing Ruben as a man who is barely holding his life together, still battling his addiction demons, and not at all in a good mental place to tackle such a major life change. One common criticism I've seen of the film is that it slows down too much in the second third, when Ruben joins Joe's treatment program and learns the fundamentals of navigating the world while deaf. However, it's necessary not only for the story, but for the audience to get to know Ruben at his best and worst. Ahmed puts Ruben's frailties on display, but also his talent and charm and capacity for doing good. It raises the stakes so much more when we get a taste of the kind of person that Ruben could be at his best.
I can't say much about the final third of the film where Ruben rejoins society, for fear of spoilers, except that I'm glad that it addresses the big, thorny issues in play related to cochlear implants and the deaf community, and gets Ruben to appreciate the position that Joe stands for, without going so far as to advocate for either side. The movie ends in the right place, not when Ruben has made any kind of definitive choice, but when he seems to finally have an understanding about what his choices actually entail, and their consequences.
"Sound of Metal" is not without its odd or contrived moments, and I felt that Ruben's relationship with Lou got seriously short shrift. Still, the film is remarkably good at getting certain ideas across, and the sound design alone is worth the price of admission. I wouldn't go as far as to say that watching this movie gives you a good idea of what it's like to experience profound hearing loss, but it's exceptional at putting you in the shoes of someone in that position, and getting you to empathize with him.
---
No comments:
Post a Comment