Does anyone remember It’s All Gone Pete Tong, Michael Dowse’s hilariously uplifting tale of real-life club DJ Frankie Wilde’s struggle against progressive hearing loss? The Academy didn’t, and perhaps it’s better that way, seeing how the staid voting members never have taken a shine to tragicomedy. Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a drummer who is four years clean and sober, and Lou (Olivia Cooke) accentuate the tragedy as a boyfriend-girlfriend metal band traveling in style from gig to gig in their deluxe Airstream. A pharmacist refers Ruben to a doctor, who in turn recommends he abstain from performing, but that’s not going to happen. His sponsor suggests spending time at a rustic retreat headed by Joe (Paul Raci), a deaf veteran and recovering addict. The couple begin on firm romantic footing, which makes it all the more baffling that the script — co-written by director Darius Marder and brother Abraham Marder from a story by Darius and Derek Cianfrance — abandons Lou for the entire middle of the picture. And when she does make her return, it’s in the shadow of a new wealthy daddy (Mathieu Amalric). Clumsy and at times painfully obvious — did we really need to see Ruben awaken Lou by sticking a drumstick in her ear — the somber mood of the piece too often finds the filmmakers turning a deaf ear to originality. (2020) — Scott Marks
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