'White Noise' (2022) - Movie Review

White Noise is directed by Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig.

White Noise is a respectful adaption of a novel by the irreverent and respected author Don DeLillo, who in a way has spent decades challenging the idea of perceived stability.

Do not be surprised by this dystopia that at times seems surreal, at others uneven, dark and hilarious in its all its farcical glory.

Premise

A toxic cloud covers the placid town. Jack is a university professor who is well contented with his life, until he finds himself in the midst of an apocalyptic scenario, and is forced to confront his ingrained notions of his own existence.

White Noise Netflix Movie — White Noise (2022)

Movie Review

Irony and ambition are contained in what would be expected to be an impossible adaptation that nevertheless, manages to convey not only the story in the novel, but also DeLillo’s leitmotiv. And it does so by going beyond the story itself, as good movies should, with good evocative imagery, an excellent script and performances, and a good tempo thanks to the editing. Baumbach plays comfortably with the irony and absurdity of the whole situation with his brilliant screenplay, photographically using his takes punctuated by archive footage, turning the chaotic structure into a quantic order of deceleration, inert and terrifying (for the protagonist as he faces his “imminent” mortality), and massively funny.

It is a film in which its director succeeds at the bringing into relief the elements that should be noted: the actors, the script, and tempo. Adam Driver shines in his role, managing to convey the comedic angle of DeLillo’s depiction of professor Jack Gladney (love his blue tinted glasses – kudos to the costume designers), dedicated to Hitler Studies, and who can merely count to five in German. Driver surprises with his ability to comedically portray this somewhat passionate and strangely pitiful character. Greta Gerwig is rather good as the devoted wife Babette, she just about manages to capture the essence of the wholesome character, and becomes increasingly convincing as the movie goes along. It is an absolute delight to see Don Cheadle in the role of professor and friend to Jack, optimistic, impressionable and constantly observing.

White Noise comes across as a very intelligent film about stability that is oh so fragile. The oblivious stance of even the supposed most brilliant minds, the politicking in any ecosystem – in this case academia in a Montessori sort of setting – and a sharp commentary (thanks to DeLillo) on the naïvety, conformity and self-importance that afflicts most of us.

White Noise entertains, comments, and will delight many a viewer. A smart adaptation of the novel that does not have a boring moment with its funny characters and a story with a unique take on the dynamics in a catastrophic scenario.

Release Date

August 31, 2022

Streaming: December 30, 2022.

Where to watch ‘White Noise’

Netflix

Starring

Adam Driver

Adam Driver is an American actor known for Star Wars saga movies and the musical, Annette (2021).

Adam Douglas Driver was born on November 19, 1983 in San Diego, California, USA.

His first appearance was in the Broadway play, Mrs. Warrren’s Proffession. In the next year (2011), he appeared in Clint Eastwood‘s movie, Edgar and, in 2012, in Lincoln, directed by Spielberg. He became known to the audiences for the HBO series, Girls. He played the role as Adam Sackler and he was nominated for an Emmy for this role. He starred in Hungry Hearts and was the villain Kylo Ren in the Star Wars saga.

We have seen him in House of Gucci (2021) and The Last Duel (2021).

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is an actress and filmmaker known for the movies Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007) and Greenberg (2010).

Gerwig has directed several movies, amongst some of the more prominent ones so far are: Lady Bird (2017), Little Women (2019), and Barbie (2023).

Director

Noah Baumbach

Noah Baumbach, born September 3, 1969, is an American writer and filmmaker. He received Academy Award nominations for writing his films The Squid and the Whale (2005) and Marriage Story (2019), both of which he also directed, while the former garnered him one of the few screenwriters to ever sweep “The Big Four” critics awards: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, New York Film Critics Circle, and National Society of Film Critics. More