Sound of Metal, Presence of Silence

In which I give a short review of Sound of Metal, and reflect a little bit on the power of sound in one of the best films of 2020.
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[@Chippey12]

This film honestly blew me away and I was not expecting it

[@ItsGregKon]

Me too, I didn't know what to expect and I couldn't stop thinking about it after I saw it.

[@PinAViolet]

Most of the movie moments I can think of that use silence are moments that would otherwise be extremely loud. In a loud action sequence that builds and builds, there seemed to be almost no choice but to cut the sound at the climax (or else risk blowing out speakers or eardrums). When I think about it, I sometimes react to those moments as if they are loud. I feel an impulse to cover my ears or flinch. I've been sort of conditioned to hear those silences as loud.
Other times I can think of are space scenes. In those, silence is used sort of similarly at the climax of volume. But it has an added effect of reminding me that there is no sound in space. The characters we care about are in an urgent situation, but the universe is figuratively and sort of literally deaf to their lives and problems. Outside of their ships and without radios, no one can hear their calls for help. No one can hear them scream, as it were.
All that said, it's hard to think of a time when movies used silence in a positive way. It's so often for tension, including at the beginning of this movie. It's very cool that the movie found a way to communicate that something we are all used to isn't exactly necessary, and silence is not inherently bad.
We talk about going somewhere quiet to calm down, or quieting the mind. A lot of the time, for me, silence is preferable in real life.
Definitely need to find time to sit down and watch this one.

[@ItsGregKon]

Love this write up, well said! I think you'll like Sound of Metal, highly recommend.

[@MattHallCollections]

Great video man!!! Love the last line "not about the absence of sound, it's about the presence of silence" *mic drop*

[@ItsGregKon]

😂😂😂 thank you!

[@shuttertalkpodcast]

You are so underrated

[@MattHallCollections]

I'M HERE!!!!!!

[@cine-chamanisme]

Your essay puts this movie on the top of my watch list !

[@ItsGregKon]

It's soooo good! Definitely check it out😊