White Noise (2022)
5.708 /10
204 Reviews
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Jack Gladney, professor of Hitler studies at The-College-on-the-Hill, husband to Babette, and father to four children/stepchildren, is torn asunder by a chemical spill from a rail car that releases an "Airborne Toxic Event" forcing Jack to confront his biggest fear - his own mortality.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Jack Gladney
... Babette Gladney
... Murray Siskind
... Denise Gladney
... Heinrich Gladney
User reviews
"Jack" (Adam Driver) is a college lecturer married to "Babbette" (Greta Gerwig). It's fourth time round for both of them so their family consists a mix of siblings, half-siblings and pets that could easily give the Tower of Babel a run for it's money. Add to that mix that he teaches about Adolf Hitler (but cannot speak German) and she has developed a secret dependency on a mysterious drug ("Dylar") and the scene is set for a dysfunctional family drama that I'm afraid to say left me yawning. The structure of the drama is pretty episodic in nature and the escapades themselves frequently border on the nonsensical (and implausible) as they have to comprehend and flee from the effects of an "airborne toxic event". Some of that is funny, some of that is not - and I'm not sure the entire concept can really sustain the 2¼ hours Noah Baumbach provides for us here. At times it comes across as ridiculously contrived, the humour and scenarios straining at the bit to be imaginative or inventive, but ending up, intellectually, face down in a ditch. Too many directors nowadays appear to me to challenge the audience to comprehend an increasing degree of nonsense or surreality almost daring us to ask "What's this all about?". Revealing ourselves idiots when we haven't really any clue? There are certainly constituent elements of this that raise a smile, and Driver continues to grow in confidence with each of the quirkier roles (remember "Annette" from 2021) he undertakes, but this is just a rambling mess of a story that offers us a surfeit of irritating dialogue underpinned by a story that plays to paranoia and stereotype in equal measure without really offering us much of a stab at redemption or comprehension. It may improve with a second viewing, but oddly enough I found it entirely well titled.
Director:
Genres:
Release Date:
2022-11-25
Run Time:
136 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
White Noise
"Jack" (Adam Driver) is a college lecturer married to "Babbette" (Greta Gerwig). It's fourth time round for both of them so their family consists a mix of siblings, half-siblings and pets that could easily give the Tower of Babel a run for it's money. Add to that mix that he teaches about Adolf Hitler (but cannot speak German) and she has developed a secret dependency on a mysterious drug ("Dylar") and the scene is set for a dysfunctional family drama that I'm afraid to say left me yawning. The structure of the drama is pretty episodic in nature and the escapades themselves frequently border on the nonsensical (and implausible) as they have to comprehend and flee from the effects of an "airborne toxic event". Some of that is funny, some of that is not - and I'm not sure the entire concept can really sustain the 2¼ hours Noah Baumbach provides for us here. At times it comes across as ridiculously contrived, the humour and scenarios straining at the bit to be imaginative or inventive, but ending up, intellectually, face down in a ditch. Too many directors nowadays appear to me to challenge the audience to comprehend an increasing degree of nonsense or surreality almost daring us to ask "What's this all about?". Revealing ourselves idiots when we haven't really any clue? There are certainly constituent elements of this that raise a smile, and Driver continues to grow in confidence with each of the quirkier roles (remember "Annette" from 2021) he undertakes, but this is just a rambling mess of a story that offers us a surfeit of irritating dialogue underpinned by a story that plays to paranoia and stereotype in equal measure without really offering us much of a stab at redemption or comprehension. It may improve with a second viewing, but oddly enough I found it entirely well titled.
White Noise was not what I expected going into it. It had great performances and interesting premise but slowly went off the rails for me. I was enjoying the first half the film; the unique dialogue structure was fresh and the suspense of the chemical event was intriguing. It had great social commentary and was funny to watch post pandemic. But after the second act the story spirals absurdity and it really hurts my overall enjoyment of the film. I have a lot more I have to say, but spoilers would be required. There was definitely something here, but unfortunately it never quite reaches the mark.
Score: 62%
Verdict: Decent
Cast & Crew of
White Noise
Cast
... Jack Gladney
... Babette Gladney
... Murray Siskind
... Denise Gladney
... Heinrich Gladney
... Steffie Gladney
... Winnie Richards
... Elliot Lasher
... Alfonse
... Grappa
... Arlo Shell
... Man With TV
... Sister Hermann Marie
... Dr. Lu
... Herr Dokter
... Simuvac Technician
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... College on the Hill
... Wilder
... Wilder
... Student in Jack's Class
... German Teacher
... Boarding House Tenant
... Supermarket Announcer
... Cashier
... Store Manager
... Stock Boy
... Cotsakis
... Truck Driver
... Student
... Neighbor
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee With Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Evacuee with Theory
... Boy Scout Camp Singer
... Boy Scout Camp Singer
... Simuvac Technician
... Life Jacket Family
... Life Jacket Family
... Life Jacket Family
... Life Jacket Family
... Life Jacket Family
... Puppeteer
... Karate Studio Evacuee
... Karate Studio Evacuee
... Karate Studio Evacuee
... Karate Studio Evacuee
... Karate Studio Evacuee
... Karate Studio Volunteer
... Dr. Hookstratten
... Sister Hildegard
... Dr. Helms (uncredited)
... Professor (uncredited)
... Chief Anderson (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... Volunteer Victim (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... Professor (uncredited)
... German Delegate (uncredited)
... Evacuee / Precision Driver (uncredited)
... Professor Helmet Dackel (uncredited)
... Sim-Evacuee (uncredited)
... Waiter (uncredited)
... Biker Chick (uncredited)
... Floor Marshall (uncredited)
... College Student (uncredited)
... Technician (uncredited)
... Neighbor (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... German Delegate Michael (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... Posture Class Attendee (uncredited)
... Officer (uncredited)
... Utility Dancer (uncredited)
... Teenager (uncredited)
... Tooth Brush Guy (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... American Red Cross Volunteer (uncredited)
... Chemistry Department Technician (uncredited)
... Utility Dancer (uncredited)
... Evacuee (uncredited)
... Neighbor (uncredited)
... Volunteer Victim (uncredited)
Crew
... Original Music Composer
... Production Design
... Costume Design
... Director
... Producer
... Writer
... Casting
... Makeup Department Head
... Producer
... Prosthetics
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Executive Producer
... Set Decoration
... Art Direction
... Stunt Coordinator
... Cinematography
... Book
... Stunts
... Songs
... Songs
... Songs
... Songs
... Songs
... Editor
... Stunts
... Makeup Artist
... Co-Producer
... Makeup Artist
... Sound Effects Editor
... Storyboard Artist
... Key Makeup Artist
... Prosthetic Makeup Artist
... Pyrotechnician
... Stunts
... Storyboard Artist
... Pyrotechnic Supervisor
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Stunt Double
... Makeup Artist
... Stunt Double
... Makeup Artist
... Hair Designer
... Sound Mixer
... Special Effects
... Stunts
... Associate Producer
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Producer
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Sound Mixer
... Stunts
... Hairstylist
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Set Designer
... Hairstylist
... Stunts
... Pyrotechnician
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Special Effects Technician
... Stunts
... Makeup Artist
... Key Makeup Artist
... Stunts
... Makeup Artist
... Stunt Double
... Hair Department Head
... Set Designer
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Producer
... Prosthetics
... Hairstylist
... Songs
... Makeup Artist
... Stunts
... Executive Producer
... Stunts
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