5 Reasons Netflix’s White Noise Was One of the Most Underrated Movies of 2022
The year 2022 has been a remarkable year for the film industry. There were a plethora of notable Korean films, such as Decision to Leave and Brokertwo, that showcased the diversity of storytelling in the cinema. Additionally, two powerful films that depicted the art of movie-making, The Fabelmans and Babylon, were released. Furthermore, deeply felt dramas like Warehouse and The Banshees of Inisherin captured audiences with their emotional depth. Lastly, the insane wonder film Everything Everywhere All at Once took the world by storm. All of these films and more received well-deserved praise, but one release that deserves more attention is White Noise, an absurdist comedy directed by Noah Baumbach and adapted from the book of the same name.
Baumbach is renowned for his focus on reality in his films. His stories often revolve around complicated relationships and anxious times of transition that remain grounded in believability. While his films are often hilarious, the comedy is derived from awkward moments and witty characters that viewers can relate to. White Noise, on the other hand, is an outlier from his typical oeuvre, being far stranger while still playing on his specific strengths as a filmmaker. It strikes a special balance that makes for a hilarious viewing experience that is both unexpected and perfect for the director.
While Baumbach’s films are not known for their cinematic prowess, White Noise is a cinematic delight. The film’s production design is a rainbow of colors, and the editing is wild. The camera work in the more chaotic moments of the film is especially impressive, with long shots of the camera moving through anxious crowds of people, each giving a brief glimpse into the vast range of feelings being experienced by the desperate populace. It all acts as a wonderful testament to the director’s cinematic artistry.
Baumbach has worked with many of the greatest actors in the business, and White Noise is no exception. The film features a wonderful cast of seasoned professionals and bright new talents that all commit entirely to the film’s absurd world. Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver give wonderfully weird yet fitting performances that act as the emotional core of the story.
At the core of White Noise’s absurdity is a story that deals with deep existential fears. The film explores our obsession with death and how that fixation distracts us from truly living in the moment. This focus on such a difficult topic makes the film relatable, especially in today’s world. It inspires us to live in the moment and enjoy those who love us with more of ourselves, cherishing it all the more because we know it will eventually end in time.
Despite its absurdity, White Noise has a tender core that revolves around the loving relationship between the husband and wife, played by Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. Their love is tested by their fear of death, which makes for some heartbreaking moments. It’s because of this relationship that the movie works so well and is able to move viewers so deeply.
In conclusion, White Noise is a delightful film that is worth your time. It may have been unjustly neglected, but it is a cinematic masterpiece that showcases Baumbach’s talent as a director. Its absurdity is balanced with a tender core, making for a truly cinematic experience that should not be ignored by anyone.
2022 was a fantastic year for movies. There were more notable Korean films with Decision to Leave and Brokertwo very different but powerful films about movie making with The Fabelmans and Babylon, deeply felt dramas like Warehouse and The Banshees of Inisherinand of course the insane wonder film that took the world by storm with Everything Everywhere All at Once. All these films and more great releases received praise and attention deserving of their high quality, yet one notable release has been unjustly neglected.
The film White Noise is an absurdist comedy by director Noah Baumbach and is adapted from a book of the same name. Despite being helmed by one of the greatest directors working today with a phenomenal cast backing him up, it was considered a misstep by most and largely ignored. There are many reasons why this happened, but there is an overwhelming sense that Baumbach’s vision was misunderstood. Here are five reasons why White Noise is a delightful film that is worth your time.
Absurd Realism
Baumbach is a director famous for his focus on reality. His filmography is made up entirely of grounded dramas that portray complicated relationships and anxious times of transition that never waver from a sense of believability. They are still often hilarious, but the comedy is always derived from awkward moments and witty characters that viewers have probably encountered themselves.
White Noise is an outlier from his typical oeuvre for being far stranger while still somehow playing on his specific strengths as a filmmaker. It’s absurd but still not so absurd that what happens is far removed from reality with everything that occurs being fairly believable, it’s just the interactions between the characters that are occasionally off. It’s a special balance that is at play that makes for a hilarious viewing experience that’s both unexpected and perfect for the director.
Baumbach at His Cinematic Peak
While no one would say Baumbach is a director lacking in cinematic prowess, his films aren’t exactly boundary-pushing. They have many clever and expressive shots that are perfect for the stories being told, but they are still grounded and more straightforward and thus lack the wild and inventive shots of other films with more heightened stories. This isn’t an issue, but it does make it special when he makes a movie that is more cinematic, like he has with White Noise.
The film is a cinematic delight, from the rainbow of colors in the production design to the wild editing. It’s especially seen in the camera work in the more chaotic moments of the film, with long shots of the camera moving through anxious crowds of people, each giving a brief glimpse into the vast range of feelings being experienced by the desperate populace. It all acts as a wonderful testament to the director’s cinematic artistry that we can only hope to see more of in the future.
An Exceptional Cast
Just as no great movie has been made with a bad script, the same is often true of a movie’s cast. Baumbach has often worked with many of the greatest actors in the business like Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson, and Adam Driver. They have often been the focal point of his films, giving career define performances that make the films unforgettable, and White Noise is no different.
The film has a wonderful cast of actors, both seasoned professionals and bright new talents, that all commit entirely to the film’s absurd world. A few of his frequent collaborators are also present, with Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver giving wonderfully weird yet fitting performances that act as the emotional core of the entire story. They all serve to make everything more engrossing with an ensemble that should not be missed.
Existential Intrigue
At the core of White Noise‘s absurd weirdness is a story with deals with deep existential fears. It’s a story about our obsession with death and how that fixation distracts us from truly living as best we can at the moment. This is a malady we all suffer from in one way or another yet few films have faced such an issue as directly as Baumbach has with this one.
This focus on such a difficult topic makes the film carry a powerful relatability that’s especially prominent for our day. Despite the book it was adapted from being written in the mid-’80s, recent times have brought about a certain dread in everyone that is mirrored in the film, albeit with a less-global catastrophe. It makes the film all the more necessary for the comfort and catharsis it gives in inspiring us to live in the moment and enjoy those who love us with more of ourselves, cherishing it all the more because we know it will eventually end in time.
A Tender Core
Movies that have so much to say mixed with absurdity can sometimes lack the personal edge of other films, choosing comedy and instruction over human connections. This is not the case with White Noisewhich might be its greatest triumph. The film does have much to say about fear of death and the absurd lives we lead all wrapped in an oftentimes hilarious experience, but it’s all anchored in a loving relationship.
The movie is really about the family we follow, more specifically the relationship between the husband and wife, played by Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. These two love each other so very much and that love is tested by their fear of death that makes for some heartbreaking moments. It’s because of this relationship that the movie works so well and is able to move viewers so deeply, making for a truly cinematic experience that should not be ignored by anyone.
