Noise (2008) Movie Information:

Noise (2008) Directed by: Henry Bean Noise (2008) Written by: Henry Bean Noise (2008) Cast: Not available at this time

Noise (2008) U.S. Distributor: ThinkFilm Noise (2008) U.K. Distributor: Not available at this time

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Noise (2008) Synopsis:

From the creators of "The Believer," winner of the 2001 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, comes a black comedy about a man caught in the most impossible of conundrums: in love with his hometown, New York City, but driven mad by its noise. Transforming himself into "The Rectifier," David takes on everyone from the schmuck who ignores his own car alarm to the city's most powerful citizen, the Mayor. As his daring grows, New Yorkers rally behind him inspiring David to win this fight by the most ingenious of schemes.

Noise (2008) Movie Review:

Have you ever been so annoyed with a car alarm going off in the middle of the night that you want to take a weapon of choice and disable the alarm yourself? All of us have been and that is why most audiences should be easy to relate to the lead character of David Owen (Tim Robbins) in the new film Noise.

David is a normal New Yorker that has a beautiful wife (Bridget Moynahan) and an enduring daughter (Gabrielle Brennan). However, David is being driven insane by the constant noise pollution in New York City, mostly car alarms going off at all hours of the night. Thus leading him to taking vigilante action by silencing the alarms himself and becoming known by the media as “The Rectifier.” After being thrown in jail a couple of times, David’s obsession with silencing the noise has hurt his family and more than anything his own life. He looks to the help of a ambitious younger writer (Margarita Levieva) to help him silence the noise the legal way, but standing in his path is the a sketchy Mayor Schneer (William Hurt).

Noise is writer/director Henry Bean’s second feature film and he captures an amusing and effective way of stating his message against noise pollution and its problems. The film is not totally based on Bean’s real-life experiences. However, he has admitted to breaking into numerous cars to silence the alarms like his lead character. After years of not getting caught, Bean was arrested, and decided to make a film about his concern and frustrations of noise pollution.

The first half of the film is solid and very effective. Most audiences should connect with the character of David and understand his madness. There have been some comparisons with this film to Falling Down, however, both are different and Noise is lighter in tone. The dialogue is sharp and there are some very funny sequences with the numerous disconnecting of the alarms in unique ways. The second half of the film is almost a bore and the clumsy over the top climax just flops and leaves some disappointment as to what might have been. The consequences that happen to David are imperative to the story and his actions, but the intentions with the ending were understandable, but misguided.

Bean previous film, The Believer, about a Jewish man that becomes a Nazi was so risky that not one studio picked it up after it premiered and won at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.

Tim Robbins is terrific as usual as David. He brings the film to another level, even when the scripts plot points fizzle. Bridget Moynahan plays his wife, and the great William Hurt also arises as the questionable mayor of New York City. Lastly, Russian actress Margarita Levieva shines in her supporting role as a writer trying to spread the word on David’s cause.

Noise is an influential film that most audiences should be able to relate to. It is just ashame that the first half of the film is so engulfing and the second half is so disregard able. There was something unique to say about noise pollution with this film, and Bean does not hold back.

Noise opens on May 9th, 2008 in the U.S., there is no release date yet for the U.K.

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Noise (2008) review written by: Bailey Henderson