Film review: “The Silent Hour”

“The Silent Hour,” which will be released in limited release on October 11, is proof that an element of intrigue is no guarantee that, despite a good cast, a thriller won’t become monotonous and largely boring.

It’s even more surprising coming from a director like Brad Anderson, who has made far more impressive and interesting films like The Machinist and Transsiberian.

Related article: Joel Kinnaman talks Silent Night and working with director John Woo

Will “The Silent Hour” make itself heard?

“The Silent Hour” has the feel of a budget, direct-to-home entertainment film, with not all that much to set it apart and not enough to recommend it beyond Joel Kinnaman completists.

It’s predictable and workmanlike, with decent performances, but it rarely rises above the bland in terms of its story or plot.

Screenplay and direction

The film appears to be the first film produced to credit author Dan Hall, and indeed the finished product bears some of the hallmarks of a first-time author whose early drafts ended up on the screen.

“The Silent Hour’s characters are serviceable at best, superficial at worst – the vast majority of them exist as archetypes or plot devices, and even Ava, one of the main characters, is largely reduced to a damsel in distress.”

Director Brad Anderson has certainly made better films than this in his career, and while he offers some insight into the stylish, gritty feel he brought to these films (he makes good use of the claustrophobic almost-abandoned setting, for example) . apartment building).

And as a filmmaker who has seen amazing performances from actors before, he seems to be at a dead end this time.

performances

Joel Kinnaman gets the lion’s share of screen time, but aside from his condition, it’s difficult to truly empathize with his situation.

Joel Kinnaman as Frank Shaw

We’ve seen Kinnaman in such gimmicky thrillers before – last year he starred as a voiceless, vengeful and grieving father in John Woo’s Silent Night – but this at least showcased the filmmaker’s unique, stylish eye for action.

While the idea of ​​a police officer whose hearing fails after an accident is interesting enough at first, the character offers little for the actor to really get involved with. His reliance on his not-very-good sign language and his sparkling partnership with Sandra Mae Frank’s Ava work aren’t enough to support a film that has other, bigger problems.

Sandra Mae Frank as Ava

Frank is a deaf actress who advocates for deaf actors to be cast in more roles, but here it still feels like she’s being used more as a gimmick than a complex character. As a drug-addicted resident of a condemned apartment building, she spends most of her time being threatened or rescued by the men around her.

Mekhi Pfifer as Lynch

Pfifer can bring nuance and subtlety if given the chance, but the character of the gruff, corrupt cop leading a group of similarly hard-working cops gives him little opportunity to show off.

Instead, he’s limited to barking orders, cursing and firing a gun (it’s funny how the villains in this film are almost unable to shoot straight) or running around the apartment complex looking for Kinnaman’s character.

Mark Strong as Doug

Strong, who plays Kinnaman’s partner, is also pretty worn out. He is introduced as a friendly, funny best cop and largely disappears from the film for long stretches until he is asked to return.

Strong is a much better actor than this film deserves, and while he does his best with what’s on offer, even his talent can’t cut it.

supporting actor

Most of the other characters are completely forgettable; a bunch of bad guys running around shooting guns (badly, as mentioned above) and screaming vulgarities as they try to achieve their crooked goals. Frank’s daughter Sam, played by Katrina Lupi, serves primarily as his concerned cheerleader in a few brief scenes. Her role reaches a level of cliché that we have seen many times before.

Final thoughts

The idea of ​​a police officer struggling with lack of hearing and encountering corrupt colleagues should have made for a more interesting film than this.

And given the talent involved – especially Anderson – it feels like an even bigger disappointment. The resulting film is like watching a good-looking car drive by that sounds like a broken car; There is a real sense of cognitive dissonance.

There are much better thrillers in the world and much more nuanced portrayals of deafness on screen, where people living with it aren’t just used as props.

“The Silent Hour” gets 5.5 out of 10 stars.

What is the plot of “The Silent Hour”?

Frank Shaw (Joel Kinnaman) is a Boston detective who loses his hearing after an accident on duty. Frustrated with his new life, Frank considers leaving the police force, but his partner Doug (Mark Strong) convinces him to prove he can still be a great cop.

With his new role as a sign language interpreter for the department, Frank is now tasked with protecting Ava (Sandra Mae Frank), a deaf woman who witnesses a double murder.

Who is in the cast of “The Silent Hour”?

• Joel Kinnaman as Frank Shaw
• Sandra Mae Frank as Ava
• Mekhi Phifer as Lynch
• Mark Strong as Doug Slater

(Left to right) Sandra Mae Frank and Joel Kinnaman in “The Silent Hour.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.

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