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Sound Of Metal Criterion 4K UHD Review

‘Sound Of Metal’ is a surprising and emotional journey. 

Directed by Darius Marder and written by Darius and Abraham Marder, ‘Sound Of Metal’ is a drama about a former drug addict drummer (Ruben) who begins to lose his hearing. His girlfriend (and the band’s singer) Lou is concerned about him and suggests he go to a shelter for Deaf recovering addicts run by a man named Joe. While there, Ruben begins to bond with the community, but he can’t seem to escape his past life. He ponders getting implant surgery hoping it will change his life, but is that really what he wants or needs?

‘Sound Of Metal’ is one of those movies that grabs you from the get go and never lets go. It’s a deeply moving and affecting drama/character study about addiction, change, adjustment, and life. You’re invested in seeing what Ruben will do and how he will react to the changes in his life. Will he move on to a new chapter in life? Will he feel lost by his hearing loss? Will he be stuck in the past? How will this affect his relationship with Lou? How does he adapt to not being a musician? There are many questions (many of which are open to interpretation) and seeing how the writers explore them is what makes the movie so absorbing.

It’s no secret that Riz Ahmed is one of the most exciting actors in Hollywood right now. Truth be told, he honestly should have won the Oscar for his performance herein my humble opinion. He gives an electric, powerful, and lively performance. Plus he learned ASL and how to play drums. That’s dedication. The ever underrated Olivia Cooke shines as Lou. She has such a wide range of roles in her relatively young career. Paul Raci (who received an Oscar nomination) gives an intensely moving performance as Joe. His heartbreaking scene (you’ll know it when you see it) is unforgettable.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? The 4K digital master provides a fantastic new print of this shot in 35mm film. The exteriors are especially noteworthy here.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? From the rocking music to the quiet intimate character moments, this track delivers Note: Descriptive audio is also available.

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* A booklet featuring credits, an essay by Roxana Hadadi
* ‘Sound Of Metal’ trailer
* Alternate French dubbed soundtrack.
* A music video for Abraham Marder’s “Green” accompanied by an optional intro from Darius Marder.
* An Amazon promo behind the scenes featurette featuring cast and crew interviews.
* A short documentary about the sound design featuring conversations by sound designer Nicolas Becker and director Darius Marder.
* The centerpiece of the extras is a newly recorded conversation between Darius Marder and director Derek Cianfrance. It’s a very personal chat that dives into the inspiration for ‘Sound Of Metal’ and how Cianfrance co-created the story and how Darius ended up writing the script with his brother. Great extra.

‘Sound Of Metal’ Criterion 4K UHD will be available Sept. 27, 2022.

September 6, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Academy Awards, drama, Paul Raci, Riz Ahmed, Sound Of Metal 4K UHD Review