Ron Livingston brings his droll sincerity to the role of Richard Pimentel, the real-life Vietnam vet deafened in combat who returned home to then combat discrimination of the disabled, eventually leading to the groundbreaking Americans With Disabilities Act. It may sound maudlin, but director Steven Sawalich wisely tempers his use of footage of the handicap—rightfully assuming that the viewer’s imagination is much more effective—and the result is a surprisingly fast-moving saga about overcoming social injustice as well as physical barriers. Of exceptional note is the performance by Michael Sheen as Art, a wheelchair-ridden, comically foul-mouthed cerebral palsy victim. It’s hard to believe that this guy played Tony Blair in The Queen.

Shelf Talk: Best known for cult favorite Office Space, topliner Livingston does a terrific job here, and he is ably supported by Sheen and Melissa George (who’s about to ride the Top 10 list in 30 Days of Night) and cameos by Leslie Nielsen, Hector Elizondo, Rebecca De Mornay and Clint Howard. The unfiltered depiction of the ’60s and ’70s—Vietnam, drugs, language—landed this one an R rating (a bit harsh given that the graphic material is kept to a minimum), so the audience will unfortunately be limited. Production values are top notch, so even if the material is a bit of a hard sell, the quality is not. Recommend Music Within to those who like drama, based-on-fact stories and medical sagas as well as those in the disabled community who might not be familiar with it.