The Sound of Silence
IFC Films | Release Date: September 13, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
6
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Wall Street JournalJohn AndersonSep 12, 2019
Art is supposed to help us see the world in novel ways. The Sound of Silence, in its quietly exhilarating manner, may make us hear it differently, too. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinSep 12, 2019
The Sound of Silence, anchored by a superbly modulated performance by the always intriguing Peter Sarsgaard, is fascinating, original and, yes, deeply resonant. Read full review
85
TheWrapRobert AbeleSep 12, 2019
Chilly yet compassionate, anchored by both a characteristically deep-set portrait of off-putting intelligence from Peter Sarsgaard and a poignant turn by Rashida Jones, it’s a delicate oddity that won’t necessarily replace any of your favorite cinematic New York couplings, but it’ll remind you why we often respond to an unlikely pairing built around smarts, sadness and hope. Read full review
83
IndieWireMichael NordineFeb 4, 2019
Even the best records start skipping after a while, and once The Sound of Silence gives in to the demands of conventional narrative it begins feeling less fresh and new than it did when it was simply introducing us to Peter and his work. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyFeb 2, 2019
Director Michael Tyburski and co-writer Ben Nabors' lyrical character study ... deftly balances the cerebral with the soulful in a story of transfixing originality. Read full review
70
Film ThreatBradley GibsonFeb 2, 2019
The characters are compelling, but I would like to have known more about how Peter came to this place in his life. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comGlenn KennySep 13, 2019
If you’re a maven or even vaguely curious there’s a lot of production value to be derived here. The human story that the filmmakers want to drape over their atmosphere, though, never quite connects. Read full review
63
Movie NationRoger MooreSep 12, 2019
The first seventeen minutes of The Sound of Silence plays like the best short film in many a year. It’s compact, provocative and thanks to the serenity of its star, Peter Sarsgaard, and fraught exhaustion of the client (Rashida Jones), draws us in pretty much instantly. It leaves us with a sense of whimsy unexplained — mystery. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineChuck BowenSep 10, 2019
A wonderful high concept is compromised for another story of lonely people learning to connect. Read full review
60
Paste MagazineOktay Ege Kozak Sep 26, 2019
While not quite a complete experience that sticks the landing, The Sound of Silence is nevertheless an impressive debut from a fresh new filmmaker. Read full review
60
VarietyPeter DebrugeMar 8, 2019
The Sound of Silence is a deeply silly movie that takes itself incredibly seriously, and believe it or not, that’s its great pleasure. Read full review
58
The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloSep 10, 2019
There’s no much going on here, either thematically or narratively. Read full review
58
UproxxVince ManciniFeb 2, 2019
It’s scholarly to the point that it’s bloodless, a dowdy tweed jacket of a film. Read full review
58
The Film StageJordan RaupFeb 2, 2019
Has a compelling hook ... but the follow-through leaves something to be desired. Read full review
50
The New York TimesAisha HarrisSep 12, 2019
The Sound of Silence wants to be heard, but, in the end, doesn’t have much to say. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSep 25, 2019
Sarsgaard and Jones are good actors, and both are fine. The real star, though, is sound designer Ian Gaffney-Rosenfeld and his team, who bring a depth and dimension to the story that sorely needs it. Read full review
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