hope this gets Ahmed more recognition

“Sound of Metal” looks at Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a 4 years sober heavy metal drummer whose livelihood is upended when he finds he has 80% hearing loss. Ahmed, probably best known from HBO’s “The Night Of”, finally gets the movie star making performance he deserves- going through all the stages of grief as he ends up at a sober living commune specializing in helping the deaf. What we get from Ruben is a man ripped away from all that makes him what he was and Ahmed captures that anger and restlessness all the way up to that final moment of serenity. He also has some great moments with Olivia Cooke, playing his equally damaged but caring girlfriend. Their early scenes together are some of the few that show how depression can affect a relationship, even a supportive one. The sound design, putting us in Ruben’s head, also conveys just how alienating this can all be. The movie’s one flaw may be that the third act meanders; Ruben’s grappling with wanting to go back to how things were only to lead himself to peace feeling a bit underwritten. But other than that, “Sound” is a success for Marder and Ahmed that should lift the profile of both.



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