★★1/2

A “house tuner” who calibrates the sounds made within a home to better match the emotional state of its residents, gives The Sound of Silence a great jump-off point with Peter Sarsgaard irreverently quirky in the leading role.

Believing he has made scientific breakthroughs professionally, his business takes a hit when one client, a single, lonely woman (Rashida Jones), sees no change in her mood after hiring him.

A terrific first half crumbles, the bleak, muted look eventually overwhelming a script with nowhere to go once the story is established. Well-acted, The Sound of Silence can’t sustain the right tone, literally or figuratively.

The Sound of Silence is playing May 17 and May 19 at the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival.
(Purchase tickets now)