The Heartbreaking Oscar-Nominated Drama That Will Make You Appreciate Life, Stream Without Netflix

Sound of Metal was written and directed by Massachusetts-born filmmaker Darius Marder, following his screenwriting debut, 2012’s The Place Beyond the Pines, and his directorial debut, 2008’s Loot. The screenplay for Sound of Metal was originally conceived of by Derek Cianfrance, who collaborated with Marder on The Place Beyond the Pines. After Cianfrance ultimately chose to pursue other projects, Marder worked with his brother Abraham to develop the existing draft into a completed script.

The film touts an extremely talented cast of terrific performers, including Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Lauren Ridloff, Paul Raci, Mathieu Amalric, and What We Do in the Shadows‘ Chris Perfetti. In preparation for his leading role in Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed spent six months learning to play drums and communicate in American Sign Language. Apparently Darius Marder was so committed to casting the correct actors in the movie that he spent over 13 years painstakingly vetting certain performers while working on the project behind the scenes.

The plot of Sound of Metal centers on a drummer and recovering drug addict named Ruben Stone, who tours the country performing with a heavy metal band. After years of wailing away on the drums without proper ear protection, Ruben begins to lose his hearing, causing him a great deal of depression. After speaking to a doctor, he learns that a cochlear implant is his last-ditch effort to save his hearing before going completely deaf, though his insurance will not cover one.

Ruben’s depression is scary for his girlfriend and bandmate Lou, as she is concerned that he may break his sobriety and turn to drugs to cope with the loss of his hearing. The pair turn to a man named Joe for help.

Joe runs a shelter for those who are deaf or undergoing hearing loss. As the plot of Sound of Metal continues, Ruben battles with the other members of the group, due to his inability to see deafness as anything other than a debilitating handicap.

As Sound of Metal builds to an emotional climax, Ruben must contend with the fact that his life has forever changed, and learn to adapt in a world without sound. The film took home multiple Oscar nominations after premiering, including Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture. Sound of Metal won Oscars for Best Sound and Best Film Editing, reflecting common sentiments from critics that the film is a modern masterpiece.

Today, Sound of Metal holds a shocking 97 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Those who have not yet had the chance to catch this movie should do so immediately. The many emotional twists and turns remind viewers to be grateful for their privileges in life.