The Sound of Silence

I liked this movie. It's different and unexpected, despite a bit slow. I liked the way it ends, graciously. Go watch it!

I would recommend seeing this. It's very interesting, kinda funny and weird, but pleasant. I know a lot of people who always feel exhausted by modern life. I could parallel lots of the sonic issues with those of modern day wifi and wireless radiation that is probably affecting us more than we know. Whatever, it was a fun and interesting flick and we really enjoyed it. Acting and editing and sound were great. I would have liked to see more about the romance and would love to hear from the other academics in the movie if they thought the main character was nuts or legit. I may have to watch this one again to gain more insight. It's solid.

The "House Tuner" may sound cool as a new promising occupation, but this movie actually didn't open a new territory or new phase. It only gave you an either dark cloudy low cast New York or gave you a dim, dark home office of this guy's apartment. The camera purposely used certain darkened, tinted lens to emphasize the dreary conditions living in the big city. City noises are everywhere, inescapable, all the man-made sounds were so random, so abrupt, so unpredictable, like some most pieces composed by the crazy Igor Stravinsky. But at least this guy used music instruments to create those crazy, unpredictable scores. But in the big city, all the noises, the sounds are all man-made mechanical craps, there's no way you can decide any part of the city is in B minor or whatever. The city noises created by traffic or other things if coming afar, it usually is called "white noise". Appliances at home if plugged, the electricity circuit would definitely cause noises.

When this guy pointed out that the female client's depression, all-day-night-feeling-tired, or whatever was coming from her toaster, I just couldn't help myself. Are you serious?! Yo, she's too lonely, okay? Her job was too boring, okay? And this certified male loner would have declare her problem was from a toaster? Jesus.....There's nothing wrong with her, all she needed was a man, a romance, a lover, a man slept next to her at night, regular sex, then she'd be automatically rejuvenated and happier. It absolutely got nothing to do with the toaster, Okay?!

What we saw in this movie were: The New York weather were constantly cloudy and chill, the city noises were so loud, abrupt and constant. Most people in New York were not happy but like working ants. Everybody lived in a quite dark apartment. Nobody wore bright colors but dark clothes. Everything and everybody looked so depressed. There's no way to solve this big city phobia, the only way to escape is smoking pot, drink hard liquor or chain smoking. House tune? Save it, man.

This was such a beautiful movie. The more I think about it the more I love it. There were so many layers that you don't even realize them all while you're watching it that make it so deep and beautiful. Peter Sarsgaard was seriously created for this part & Rashida Jones spoke so freely & honestly throughout that I couldn't help but feel empathetic in every one of her scenes. Can't wait to recommend this movie to all my film lover friends!

Greetings again from the darkness. "Turn that down!" Those are words we all hear when growing up and then repeat as our own kids come of age. Noise pollution rarely receives the same attention as that of air or water, and most of us are startled when we find ourselves out in the country - an environment lacking the everyday electronic, power cell, and human-generated noises we have come to accept and ignore. Director Michael Tyburkski and his co-writer Ben Nabors have expanded their 2013 short film PALIMPSEST to feature length, so that we might hear their point.

Peter Sarsgaard stars as Peter Lucian, a so-called "house-tuner". Peter has turned his life's work into an occupation where he visits his clients' homes and identifies the imbalances and problem areas caused by sound. For example, his clients may have relationship issues or experience exhaustion from poor sleep. Peter uses his exceptional hearing and experience to identify an 'out-of-tune' radiator or buzzing toaster, with the expectation of improving the clients' daily life. The premise is actually quite fascinating, especially for the city dwellers of New York City ... a place Peter has meticulously plotted and charted sounds on a map over the years.

And yes, you are correct. Peter is a bit lonely and isolated from society. His interactions are exceedingly low-key and mundane, though it's quite obvious in the early scenes that he take immense pride and pleasure from his work. Well that is, until he can't seem to solve new client Ellen's (Rashida Jones) issue. These first few scenes are the best the film has to offer. The additional scenes with Peter and Ellen seem forced, almost formulaic, as it slips into possible relationship mode for two people who don't seem comfortable at all in the world. The other piece of this puzzle has to do with Peter's quest for acceptance by the scientific community, specifically his mentor Robert Feinway (the always fun Austin Pendleton). Tony Revolori (THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL) plays Peter's assistant Samuel Diaz, and screen veteran Bruce Altman plays an investor who wants to monetize Peter's work.

"Silence is not empty, but immeasurably full." It's this type of philosophy that the filmmakers use to add weight to Peter's work. They keep us guessing as to whether he is a bit of a Savant ... or more of a crackpot. It's a high concept and ambitious idea accompanied by sound design that provides a constant tone/ringing that is sometimes faint, and sometimes prevalent. More of Peter's early sound detective work would have proved more interesting, but you'll likely find yourself a bit more attuned to the sounds around you after watching.