Watch Sound of Metal

Sound of Metal is a masterful drama that tells the story of a passionate drummer named Ruben Stone (played by Riz Ahmed), who leads a successful band with his girlfriend, Lou (played by Olivia Cooke). They tour the country in their vintage RV, living out their rock-and-roll dream. But events start to take a dark turn when Ruben notices his hearing beginning to fade. It becomes hard for him to understand people when they talk and impossible for him to continue performing music.

As Ruben seeks out medical help, he finds out that he has permanently damaged his hearing and is told that he will soon be entirely deaf. His world starts to fall apart, leaving him feeling lost and disconnected from everything that he loves. Desperate to cling to his previous life, he tries to carry on with his music career, refusing to acknowledge the severity of his situation.

After another unsuccessful attempt to hear through hearing aids, Ruben is introduced to a community of deaf people who teach him how to navigate his new reality. He meets Joe, (played by Paul Raci), who was a recovering alcoholic and retired Vietnam veteran. Joe runs a center for the deaf and becomes Ruben’s mentor. Joe helps Ruben understand that being deaf doesn't have to be a death sentence for his musical career.

As Ruben starts to come to terms with his deafness, the movie focuses on his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. He learns American Sign Language and starts to make connections with the deaf community. The movie takes viewers through a unique perspective of what it is like to be deaf, from the sounds of the cochlear implant to the feeling of vibrations.

Sound of Metal is a masterclass in the art of filmmaking. The sound design creates an incredibly immersive experience for the audience, with moments of deafening silence contrasting with loud, jarring noise. The movie also explores themes of addiction, loss, and acceptance, creating a powerful emotional impact that stays with you long after it has finished.

The performances in this movie are exceptional, particularly Riz Ahmed as Ruben. He delivers an incredibly raw, vulnerable performance, conveying the pain and confusion that his character experiences perfectly. Olivia Cooke brings depth and balance to her role as Lou, offering a grounded perspective of how Ruben's struggles impact those around him. Additionally, Paul Raci is outstanding as the mentor character Joe, providing a powerful and inspiring anchor for the movie.

Overall, Sound of Metal is a thought-provoking and emotionally powerful movie that explores the human experience of change and transformation. It masterfully captures how people deal with losing something they love and have had a passion for their entire life, but at the same time, it also shows that even in the midst of adversity, one can find beauty and joy in life. This film is a must-watch for anyone looking for an honest, heartwarming, and genuine story of human perseverance.

Sound of Metal is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 82.