WHITE NOISE Movie Review - Breakfast All Day

Christy and Alonso review "White Noise," the movie version of Don DeLillo's supposedly unfilmable novel. Writer-director Noah Baumbach has adapted it with mixed and extremely messy results. Starring Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola and May Nivola. In limited release, begins streaming on Netflix Dec. 30.
#whitenoise #noahbaumbach #netflix
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[@bev9708]

I think most reviewers seem to agree... too frantic maybe?!!! Glad to see you getting more sponsors too!!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Ha, thanks Bev.

[@Stuie299]

Personally I think its very well made with some fantastic performances. I just kind of went along with everything and had a really fun time. Though, because it is so hyper stylized I can definitely see people not liking it, but it all just sorta worked for me. I especially liked that at it's core its this quirky indie dramedy, but so much of it is filmed like an 80's Spielbergian blockbuster. I was lucky enough to see it at a local film festival on the big screen. If you can see it in theaters please do, so you can get the full effect.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Glad you enjoyed it more than we did!

[@martin43427]

I’m probably in the minority but I genuinely liked/almost love this movie. It’s been like a good 7-8 years since I last read the book in college, but I tried to approach the movie as its own thing and, I dunno-it all coalesced for me as this unique, almost a mesh of academia combating anxiety born from facing one’s mortality in a consumer-obsessed society that yearns for constant distraction (ads, colors, brands, etc.). And I just got on the movie’s wavelength that I wasn’t expecting. The film is truly beautiful. The cinematography, production design, the score from Danny Elfman (it’s probably his best in a decade, at least)-all these aspects made this truly one of my most engaging film experiences of the year. I felt transported and everything felt tactile and real. I will say this: I think living in 2022 after when all of us are still reeling from a once-in-a-century pandemic, the film’s core theme of our bubble of self-delusion and safeguard bursting and confronting death on a massive scale really felt resonant for me. As a 28 yr old just constantly afraid of gun violence, angry people fueled by political history and being sick from covid, the airborne toxic event really felt more relevant now than it was originally meant when the novel was released. I totally get why people aren’t jelling with this. I feel that way the same way I felt from PTA’s Inherent Vice, where a filmmaker is adapting such a dense novel filled with incessant dialogue and plot mechanics and I fell in love with that film, and I think this film will join it on the small island of movies I love everyone doesn’t like. And yes, the end credits is the best end credits of the year.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Inherent Vice is a good comparison. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@tlovehater]

This was my first DeliLlo novel and also my last lol.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

@@tlovehater Ha!

[@ryanwitt6861]

I do enjoy grocery store items of another era. At 42 there are plenty of things that have come and gone. I'm a nerd and writer so I read the book years ago and... I'm also in the camp that this should have stayed a novel. Props also for the name check origin story of the band Airborne Toxic Event, a band I also enjoy! Great stuff as always you two!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

They're so good, right? They're our opening song on the podcast episode that goes along with this. Thanks for watching.

[@TimothyCollins]

I read the novel and... honestly I am not sure if I loved it or loathed it. I haven't the faintest idea how they are going to make this a movie.

[@raymondzrike2085]

Definitely felt like the sum of the parts were greater than the whole. I saw it again hoping things would congeal a bit better, but not really. I enjoyed moments though, like the confession scene and the computer simulation scene (the one Alonso mentioned). I must mention also, the sound mixing was very odd. I saw it in two different nice theaters with good sound systems (Lincoln Center and Paris Theater), and I could not understand one word from the pill-seller guy. Neither could the people who saw the film with me.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

You are dedicated! Thanks for your thoughts.

[@Gabrielcezar94]

I'm really curious about this film, not yet having read the novel. It's one of those divisive movies you've got to see for yourself and make your own opinion, and that alone is exciting.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

You'll have to let us know what you think!

[@melodylomboy9478]

Great review!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

HI! 👋 Thank you!

[@orbitaljellyfish808]

The book and movie are absolutely brilliant. It’s operatic with overlaid dialogue, it’s intensely intelligent. If you can’t stand the heat… Seriously, the content is confronting so many absurd cultural norms at once that it’s embodying the title in content and style. It would be disappointing if it all hit on the first viewing. I want to see it the 10th time and still see/hear new things.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Glad you enjoyed it more than we did!

[@swray2112]

4? Sigh... Guess this was for people who would never watch the Mandelorian. I'd give it a solid 8. Best production design of the year, excellent acting (will admit some dialogue seemed more at home for the stage), compelling narrative that makes one think and contained many homages, especially Close Encounters. I'd love to hear what y'all thought of Triangle of Sadness, or would I?

[@BreakfastAllDay]

It's possible to watch The Mandalorian AND White Noise. We contain multitudes around here. And yes, we reviewed Triangle of Sadness: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYq0n2iVYpmsfNU

[@TimothyCollins]

I'm getting nervous about this movie since the trailer seems to center on only one 50 page section of the book. I mean, sure, that section is likely the most easily filmed but still... that's sort of like the smallest section of the book.

[@miguel167589]

I found the book just the same. The dialogue is too overbearing and everyone just sounds the same after a while. I still enjoyed many moments of the movie but not a Baumbach movie I'll be coming back to which sucks because I love so much of his work.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That's funny. We do too! Thanks for your thoughts.

[@kellybrincks]

Sounds like I might enjoy this. I like really frantic films. And I always enjoy the work of Driver and Gerwig.

[@havingaparty21]

This should’ve been a Spike Jones/Charlie Kaufman joint

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That's a really good idea.

[@richgranados11]

I thought it was ok as a comedy. Like an extended episode of the Simpsons from the 90’s. I’m sure Delillo was poking fun at family sitcoms that were popular at the time like the Cosby show. I think it’s best enjoyed in a relaxed mood because it is very chatty but a lot of old Hollywood films used to have this pace of dialogue. People don’t have the attention span to read books anymore so here ya go

[@chrisc2439]

i felt the same sense of awe & wonderment at the ending credits scene -- and the we-coulda-had-this-the-whole-time thought

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Right? Thanks Chris.

[@nativewizard]

this is basically the noah baumbach version of vacation

[@bullit199]

There are themes and satire that might fly over most viewers heads. I thought it was an enjoyable and ambitious film. Not everyone’s cup of tea but excellent performances and adept directing.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@thefilmseeker]

Between this and Babylon, I'm all for Chloe Fineman just randomly showing up in these auteur movies for about 15 seconds to do a funny voice and then dip.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

She's great in this year's Father of the Bride remake, too!

[@adamw116]

Do I get to see bottles of 7-Up Gold in this movie?

[@BreakfastAllDay]

If you look closely enough!

[@postmodernrecycler]

You ID'd the good elements, so thanks! We all know this book is unfilmable, but then Kubrick made 'Eyes Wide Shut' and Huston made 'The Dead'--so it is possible to translate difficult literature to the screen. The plastic/simulacrum '80s vibe is there, at least. But no "most photographed barn in the world", WTH?!

[@gimlicharms]

Had a small hand in helping on this film and whoa boy I have some stories lol

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Ooh, interesting.

[@jcmea13]

Give us one at least please 👀

[@cjlaity1]

It does sound like it should have been a musical.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That closing credits number is killer.

[@cjlaity1]

@@BreakfastAllDay -- I'll have to check it out.

[@Hotsaucewatergun05]

Fantastic novel. Darkly comedic at times but not like this… I swear I remember seeing something on David Fincher’s IMDB page about this being in pre-production. Who knows though. That was 2007

[@BreakfastAllDay]

It's probably been kicking around for a while.

[@Matty_bop]

Where’s Matt and Ben?

[@Thomas15]

If only this film stuck to the toxic event story I might have enjoyed the rest of it. 3/10

[@BreakfastAllDay]

It's a lot!

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

The Michael Keaton film?

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Nope.

[@mattearle1781]

Review “The Eternal Daughter,” please.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

We can try early next year! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@JoaqMan]

You know a movie is not worth it if the credits are the best part of it

[@BreakfastAllDay]

You can fast forward to them on Netflix!

[@crithon]

don't know dude, I just rewatched Psycho, and there it reads "credits by Saul Bass."

[@AntsMovies]

Just saw this one and yeah it totally doesn’t work. I’m sure it’s a better book but man the kid characters were absolutely annoying UGH

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Ha, thanks for your thoughts.

[@haydenclaborn9584]

So what you’re telling me is Francis Ha and Mistress America are better Gerwig Baumbach colabs?

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Would seem so.

[@forallthestupidshit3550]

Can't go wrong with that cast (said before seeing the movie or this video reviewing it ...)

[@BreakfastAllDay]

You would think!

[@forallthestupidshit3550]

@@BreakfastAllDay ya, I just finished the review. Turns out you *can* go wrong with this cast, hahaha Thank you for your service ❤️

[@oh.....5075]

I was glued to the TV, yet I'll never watch this move again 5 out of 10.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Ha, well said!

[@lous111]

So it's a far cry from Marriage Story, which appears to be Baumbach's most approachable film.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

Loved The Squid and the Whale too.

[@Phantoma3]

I couldn't finish this movie after 50min in. It was going nowhere to me.

[@rogerbell8429]

This movie has been getting some very good reviews in the UK. I can't understand why. It fails on so many levels. Is it meant to be a comedy? It's just not funny. The characters are not believable, step forward Don Cheadle and Greta Gerwig in particular. Adam Driver tries his best but even he can't sell the movie. The situations have potential but the script and the direction can't bring them to life. How can so much talent produce such a poor movie?!

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That's so interesting. Reviews here have been mixed.

[@curtisebear1568]

2022 was a great year for horror and genre directors. Awful year for prestige and award season directors. O’Russel, Baumbach, Aronofsky, Mendes, Spielberg etc all made my least favourite movies of the year.

[@BreakfastAllDay]

That is true!

[@ranestorypictures1738]

Shhhh 🤫

[@johnnolan5579]

This terrible film is an 'honorable failure' yet The Whale is a 'freak show?' Nothing about "White Noise" works. Performances by Driver and especially Gerwig are flat (did you really care about either one of them?), and the movie wanders all over the place like a dog looking for a place to poop. Baumbach is totally the wrong director for this material. Aronofsky does far better work with his actors in "The Whale." But, of course, you two would much rather heap praise on "Home Sweet Home Alone."

[@vicaldama9314]

Remember the San Francisco band Grotus are the ones to turn me on to this book by using expert from the novel quoting how everyone hates Californians and don't mind when a catastrophe happens to us..I tired reading it ,but was annoyed at the cute/ clever writing especially about the son handling the a crowd with facial humor and facts ....