The Listener (2024)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

The Listener follows Beth (Tessa Thompson), a young woman who spends her nights helping others via phone. Each call comes with its own set of issues, and Beth is forced to deal with the unbecoming reality that lives just outside her home. 

It’s Thompson’s voice that strengthens the film the most. She does a brilliant job of calming her voice, remaining monotone, but equally serene when necessary. She is a calming presence in an otherwise stressful setting. The Listener, even with all of its other beautiful parts, rests on the shoulders of Thompson (and her incredible voice). She is used to juxtapose every other character, every heartbreaking situation, every moment of existential turmoil that penetrates the very fibers of the film–and she’s brilliant in every second of The Listener.

Furthermore, Thompson is asked to juxtapose her own voice–and she does so using her facial expressions. While it’s her voice that is most integral to the development of The Listener, I’m most impressed by her ability to manipulate her face while retaining the same level of serenity throughout. I’ve seen Thompson before, and with how popular she’s becoming, I imagine that I’ll see much more of her in the future–but to date, The Listener is her best, most compelling performance. 

The Listener uses simplicity to tell a story, one that resonates with just about everyone with time to watch. The dialogue is often simple, mirroring that of the real world, feeling truly authentic–making it even easier for viewers to appreciate the things being said and done throughout. Viewers see (moreso hear) a plethora of characters, from all walks of life–and as they express to Ruth their troubles, we are reeled into their lives, into their stories, into their struggles. The Listener doesn’t extend itself too far, often referencing real-life events and honest emotion. We don’t have to suspend our disbelief, we don’t have to pretend that the things occurring before us are happening–as every second of The Listener feels real, relatable, honest. 

Similar to the dialogue, the set design, too, is incredibly simple. We live in Ruth’s home with her for the duration of the film. We see typical, familiar items as she turns each corner of her house–and, once again, we are pulled into a reality incredibly similar to our own. Existing in that house is a darkness, a literal darkness that seeps into every inch of The Listener. The film takes place at night, but the darkness helps to develop a tone that transcends The Listener in its entirety. 

The Listener is a brilliant film that showcases the talent of Thompson in a way that I had not yet seen, and she delivers every step of the way. Director Steve Buscemi takes every opportunity to present Thompson to the world, to allow her to shine brightly against the darkness of the film (both literally and figuratively). As The Listener drives forward, it touches on a series of real-life issues, ones with which the world is far too familiar, and it continues to reel viewers in until its final moments. The film never loses vigor, never loses passion; The Listener glides from start to finish, successful in every facet of its being. 

Directed by Steve Buscemi. 

Written by Alessandro Camon. 

Starring Tessa Thompson, Logan Marshall-Green, Derek Cecil, Margaret Cho, Blu del Barrio, Ricky Velez, Alia Shawkat, Jamie Hector, Casey Wilson, Bobby Soto, Rebecca Hall, etc. 

9.5/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND GET TO THE THEATER NOW