Directed by Brad Anderson, known for the tense and psychological The Machinist (2004), The Silent Hour promises to be a gripping crime thriller full of suspense and emotion. With stellar performances by Joel Kinnaman (In the Shadow of the Moon) and Mark Strong (Kingsman), the film tackles compelling themes like vulnerability and resilience, following a hearing-impaired detective confronting criminals in a claustrophobic setting. It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Sound of Metal (Darius Marder), where a drummer (Riz Ahmed) loses his hearing and must redefine his professional and personal life. Similarly, The Silent Hour delves into comparable issues, particularly the emotional connections formed between its characters. With an inclusive narrative highlighting hearing-impaired protagonists, the movie delivers twists, tension, and heartfelt moments that are not to be missed.
Presented at the Toronto Film Festival and awarded in Zurich, 'Sound of Metal' is a powerful film that not only manages to tell a story about a loss - in this case, sensory - and its acceptance, but also manages to evoke the feeling through image and, above all, with an excellent sound design. Much of the burden falls on Riz Ahmed ('Rogue One'), who gives one of the best performances of his career capturing the despair of his character, as well as the beauty he finds in the quietude. The film also features the always excellent Olivia Cooke ('Ready Player One') in one of the most interesting characters of her career.
"CODA" is the American version of the beloved French drama "A Família Bélier", released in 2014. The production follows a girl who hears in a family where everyone is deaf and who finds herself divided between pursuing her love for music and the trust of her family to continue being their bridge to the outside world. It's a really beautiful and charming story, the cast does a beautiful and emotional job. The movie is flawless, but the criticism remains that Hollywood continues to bring internationally known narratives because there is a barrier for Americans to watch subtitled productions. "CODA" follows the same path as many other great stories that often lose audience in the US because they are from other countries. The feature was the big winner at Sundance 2021, being able to make a success in even bigger events, such as the Oscars or the Golden Globe, while the original, "A Família Bélier", stayed closed in the European awards circuit.
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 2018, A Quiet Place is the second directorial feature of actor John Krasinski's (best known for the American version of The Office), which also stars his wife Emily Blunt. The movie, undoubtedly, strays away from the formula already known for horror stories: there are no obvious scares and the suspense permeates the story throughout the 90 minutes. Krasinski drank from the source that inspired the great master Alfred Hitchcock –and the influence is quite perceptible. If you were looking for a good suspense movie, you've come to the right place!