White Noise
White Noise

White Noise

2022Movie136 minEnglish

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.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes61%
Metacritic66/100
Google Users56%
Director: Noah BaumbachGenres: Comedy, Drama, Horror

Plot Summary

The film follows Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler studies at a liberal arts college, as his life is disrupted by an "airborne toxic event" and his own anxieties about death and consumerism. Amidst family drama and existential dread, Jack grapples with the meaning of life and the fear of the unknown. It's a darkly comedic and surreal exploration of modern anxieties and the human condition.

Critical Reception

White Noise received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its ambition, performances, and stylistic flair, but some found its tone uneven and its satire occasionally muddled. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with many appreciating its intellectual depth and dark humor, while others were alienated by its abstract nature.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its sharp satire and outstanding performances, particularly from Adam Driver.
  • Deemed a visually striking and intellectually stimulating, albeit challenging, adaptation.
  • Some critics found the film's blend of horror, comedy, and drama to be tonally inconsistent.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a thought-provoking and visually interesting experience, with many appreciating its dark humor and the performances. However, a significant portion found it to be overly long, somewhat pretentious, and difficult to fully connect with.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Golden Lion at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Received nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Adam Driver) and Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Greta Gerwig).

Fun Fact

The film is an adaptation of Don DeLillo's acclaimed 1985 novel of the same name, which was notoriously considered 'unfilmable' by many.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Nathan

Nathan

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 t...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"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 ...