No. 103 (2022) WHITE NOISE Dec. 15th.

 

Film No. 103 (2022)  December  15th.  12.20 PM   Cinema 6.  LUNA,  Leederville.

 

"I wish there was something I could do. I wish I could out think the problem". (Dr Jack confides in his academic friend the fragile thoughts that enter his mind). 

Winner : Best Actor (Colin Farrell); Best Screenplay (Martin McDonagh)  Venice Film Festival 2022.

Along with, DON'T LOOK NOW (50's / 60's), WHITE NOISE surely represents the most elaborate depiction of an era (70's / 80's) in movieland, 2022. It is a visual extravaganza. So let me say, it is worth taking this "white knuckle ride" as Noah Baumbach adapts Don DeLillo's novel of the same name to the screen using any resource he wishes, care of $$Netflix$$. But please let it be noted, I saw WHITE NOISE on the big screen. I'm not sure the sound and visual's here will be as impactful in your loungeroom.

Baumbach takes on his most ambitious project to date. Adapting a book in itself is ambitious, considering his original screenplays, including FRANCIS HA and MARRIAGE STORY (2019), to name a couple. But themes of consumerism, family dynamics and life's frailties coupled with a budget to allow him a Spielbergian experience was an opportunity too good for him to pass up. THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005) cost only $1.5M but with WHITE NOISE Netflix is reported to have received little change from $140M. Fortunately, Noah has made a reasonable fist of his first blockbuster.

There is a lot to unpack in WHITE NOISE. A paunchy Adam Driver as Dr Jack Gladney leads the way in this surreal journey. Depicted as the U'S's leading academic on Adolf Hitler, he's openly frightened of dying. Dr Jack's early scenes with wife Babo (Greta Gerwig), (each in their 4th relationship, four children included) falsely secures us in an off beat relationships melodrama. But soon we learn that their children are more grounded than they are. The images of supermarket aisles bursting with colourfully packaged items without soul, and the desperation of others to trample on each other after "the event" leads us along the surreal avenue down which Baumbach ultimately wishes to take us.

Watching THE FABLEMANS two days after WHITE NOISE, put my description of Baumbach entering the world of Spielberg into perspective. "The event" here is triggered by a big screen disaster Steven S would have been proud of. But the change of gear doesn't really suit the way Baumbach tells his stories. Sure, a good part of the Netflix budget was used so we could witness the catastrophic events. But I'd have been more interested in the way Noah could have made his point without $100M to play with. But I digress. 

WHITE NOISE plays as if it's a piano with a couple of tuneless keys. It is however a film that needs a second watch. Maybe that's why it's perfect Netflix fare. And the closing titles sequence is as delightfully entertaining as anything produced in recent times. It's fun and adds to the thought provoking nature of this Thinking Person's blockbuster.  8GUMS.