WHITE NOISE (Noah Baumbach, 2022)

I loved this adaptation of Don Delillo’s novel from start to finish but I fear I am in the minority. If you watched it and told me “I didn’t like it, it was weird” I’d only be able to say “Yeah.” From where I was sitting, though, I found the film to be surreal and audacious with a plot shift halfway through that worked for me. There were also occasional flashes of a real horror movie vibe that Danny Elfman’s score heightened in an effective way. I thought Noah did a great job carving out his own style while still giving a tip of the hat to his influences (Wes Anderson, Gene Hackman from The Conversation, Dario Argento, Monty Python, Charlie Kaufman…) and coaxing some inspired performances from his cast (Don Cheadle was the secret weapon). Recommended for fans of the novel, Baumbach’s trademark rapid-fire and witty dialogue, and/or those who take a chance on films that may or may not fall short of the lofty goals they set for themselves.