Sound of Metal 2019

      Keeping at bay his inner demons by devoting himself to art, heavy metal drummer Ruben has been living for the moment for the past four years.  He is a former drug addict but he’s trying to stay clean.  Unexpectedly, while on tour with his lead-singer/girlfriend Lou, Ruben realizes that his hearing is rapidly deteriorating.  How will he be able to continue in his profession if he is deaf? 

    This sudden hearing loss turns Ruben's world upside down and numbing fear paired with angry denial take over.  Ruben reluctantly joins a small deaf community overseen by Joe.  Joe is a compassionate Vietnam War veteran.  Ruben will need to find some solid ground.  He also needs to understand that being deaf is not a handicap.  Deafness isn't something to fix but something to overcome.  Is Ruben willing to accept his new life and learn how to be deaf?  Other complications are that Ruben is low on money and his partner Lou has left him.  She doesn’t understand the deaf world that Ruben has joined??  5 1/2* (I really liked this movie) 

Note:  Imdb 7/8* out of 10* with 101 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 97% with 274 reviews 90% with 1000+ audience scores, Metacritic 82 out of 100 with 37 critic reviews 7.9 out of 10 with 183 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* Brian Tallerico, The Guardian 5* Mark Kermonde, indiewire.com A- Eric Kohn.

Special Note:  Paul Raci plays Joe and he is the founder of the deaf rehab facility.  He isn't actually deaf but both his parents were deaf.  He is a prominent figure in the deaf community as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and a member of Hands of Doom, a band that performs in ASL.  Ruben gets simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants and he is sent on his way.  Actually, he would first be evaluated for suitability, including his commitment to learning how to process the new sounds.  He would be expected to begin the work after activation and he would be informed of the differences between his past hearing and his new experience up front.  None of this is Ruben's version of getting the implants?    

120 min, directed and written by Darius Marder also written by Abraham Marder, story by Derek Cianfrance with Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Amalric, Chelsea Lee, Chris Perfetti, Bill Thorpe, Michael Tow, Lauren Ridloff, Domenico Toledo, Shaheem Sanchez, Bill Thorpe, Tom Kemp, Elan Sicroff, Ezra Marder.