Noise | 
| Director: Henry Bean
Actors: Tim Robbins, William Baldwin, William Hurt, Bridget Moynahan, Keir O'donnell
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $0.28
You Save: $9.70 (97%)
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Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 14073
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Genre: 0
Rating: Unrated
ESRB: Teen
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 16156
UPC: 013131615692
EAN: 0013131615692
ASIN: B001AYWY9K
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Movie DVD
Amazon.com
Of all the noxious aspects to modern life, the one that people seem to most passively put up with is noise pollution--random car alarms, horns, sirens, screeching machinery and the like. Perhaps because there's no single "bad guy" behind the creeping situation, there've been few movements against it. Which leaves the perfect opening for Noise, Henry Bean's allegory about a one-man vigilante for peace and quiet, played with torment and depth by the always-dependable Tim Robbins. Robbins plays David, a devoted husband and father who becomes so distressed--then obsessed--by the noise in his adopted home of Manhattan that he snaps (quietly, of course). The film channels Falling Down, but also has elements of Batman and other superhero dramas, as David takes on the persona of The Rectifier--breaking into cars whose alarms go off incessantly and dismantling the alarms. His obsession takes deeper and more dangerous turns, and he becomes both public enemy No. 1 (in the eyes of the city's unctuous mayor, played splendidly by William Hurt, who calls him "nothing but a two-bit vigilante") and a hero to the everyjoes as rattled by the needless racket as David is. Bean's storytelling is also creative, playing with time and chronology, as David's focus shifts and darkens. One wonders periodically why David doesn't take up the suggestion of his wife (Bridget Moynahan) to move to the leafy suburbs, or even back to the Midwest. But no matter: The Rectifier is on a mission. "I used to think there's nothing you could do about the noise," David muses at one point. "But once you get started, it's easy. It's stopping that's hard." The disc includes a fascinating commentary by writer-director Bean, who based the character of David on himself, years earlier when he broke into cars to turn off their alarms, even serving jail time for the offenses. --A.T. Hurley
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
Gary Hoyt June 24, 2009
Gary Hoyt (Boulevard, CA United States)
I'd like to see more movies like this.
There are now over 7 billion people on earth, 4 billion in 1972. Meaning allot more natural noise.
The "IDIOTS" that make the unnecessary noise pollution with modified exhaust systems aren't "cool" they are the scourge of society.
wont be shown in school civics class... June 3, 2009
R. Robinson (N.C. by way of TX)
This movie is to cool to write a synopsis for, if you can't stand the system and believe that change can only come from outside of it, watch this. Alright then, the acting, directing, and writing were all of professional quality. Look out for the "ugly vagina" scene which makes this a no-no for the kiddies.
 Delightful and original April 23, 2009
Brian Long (Ogden, UT USA)
Noise is an fantastic deviation from the norm that sadly did not make enough of a splash when it was released, which was only 2 years ago I was amazed to find out. Robbins plays alawyer that is constantly annoyed with the noise of living in New York city. Added on top of the stresses of his home life and work, Robbins begins to take the fight to the source, becoming a high profile vandal known as the Rectefier. His attacks on his foe draw the ire of the mayor of New York City, and the battle between them for Robbins sanity follows a variety of interesting turns.
Robbins acting in this is top notch, supported by several smaller names, most of whom held their weight, but was nearly poisoned by a few parts that felt overblown and outrageous.
There are quite a few scenes that feel drastically out of place, and Robbins tailspin marriage and separated affair feels a bit overdone, almost to the point of softcore pornography. But aside from this weird turn, the movie was hysterical, with several scenes worth watching repeatedly, and an ending message that's uplifting and empowering, that the little guy can still slay the giant.
Noise Pollution! March 28, 2009
YJM (Somewhere In The South)
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. While I don't share Tim Robbins or his wife's political views, I have also enjoyed Tim Robbins the actor. He has a very natural, easy way about him. The supporting cast are also very good.
The subject of noise pollution is near and dear to my heart. I'm extremely sensitive to external noises, whether it be an annoying car alarm, a neighbors annoying dog barking, idiots driving by with a 1,000 watts of stereo system in their car (and wanting everyone to know it), annoyingly loud garbage trucks (touched on in the movie) etc. We seem to live in a world that is increasingly self-centered, where people only care about their own needs. Rudeness abounds. I guess as our cities become more and more populated increasing noise pollution is the expected result, but it's disturbing how many of the noise polluters truly don't care about the fact they are bothering someone else. Our cities have gotten noisier and ruder and this film tackles those issues head on. I found it to be refreshingly original, funny, well written, and well acted.
One star was deducted for a scene involving two women spreading their legs for each other and admiring how "pretty" and how "ugly" their respective vagina's look. One of the women then goes on to complain about how bad it makes her feel to have an ugly looking vagina. Really, the whole scene should have been cut, it was pointless, vulgar, and very distasteful.
Still, I highly recommend this movie just for it's sheer originality. Such a simple concept, man goes vigilante after being fed up with loud, obnoxious car alarms. A really neat movie evolved from that simple idea, and while there is very little creativity in Hollyweird these days, the independents can still be counted on for that.
 A quiet riot, sort of February 27, 2009
A. Dent (Minas Anor, GD)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Life is a loud, noisy Hell, isn't it? Hmmmm... correction, life in New York City is a loud, noisy Hell? How do I know it? Well... I happen to be in New York City as I am writing this and, from my 15th floor hotel suite I can hear the loud police and ambulance sirens, the garbage trucks, the horns, the occasional helicopter and, louder than them all was Noise, the movie which I just watched.
The cast:
- Tim Robbins: the superhero, the Rectifier. Not quite getting Hegel, because he's constantly disturbed by car alarms. Tim does everything within and without the law to get things quieter and car alarms banned.
- William Baldwin: the mayor's... something. It's not clear why he's in this movie but he's another name added to a rather prestigious cast.
- William Hurt: the mayor himself. He seems to be 'pro noise' but we don't know why because he plays a rather small part too.
- Bridget Moynahan: Tim's semi-Russian not-girlfriend, about to leave for London to study philosophy. She has a pretty good understanding of Hegelian dialectics.
- many others: Tim's wife, his kid daughter, judges, cops, New Yorkers
The main message seems to be that we should be mad as Hell (see above) and that we shouldn't take it any more but we don't because we're like sheep or cattle strolling into the slaughter house and little can be done to fix things except maybe getting a court order (clever). And, of course, the movie is supposed to be funny. There are secondary themes and digressions but the movie should be seen so I won't be going into any more details.
In the end, after 90 minutes of constant anti-noise pleas and loud demonstrations I could not help but ask myself 'why?'. The movie does have its funny moments and noise pollution in New York is real but, somehow, I was left with the impression that someone really, really wanted to throw a lot of talent into a semi-low budget movie discussing an issue that was socially-responsible but not too controversial so... how about 'noise'?
After a lot of thinking following my watching 'Noise', I now agree that noise, especially noise produced by car alarms is annoying. I also agree that we, New Yorkers, should never again behave like sheep and we should do something about loud car alarms. But... wait. I am NOT a New Yorker. In fact, I'll be leaving New York tomorrow. However, if anyone wants me to sign some anti-noise petition... I'll think about it.
Final thoughts: Tim Robbins is a good actor and Bridget Moynahan is a fresh face. They both performed well. Noise is okay to watch on a movie channel or as a rental if nothing else worth watching is available. On the other hand, I doubt that Tim Robbins, William Hurt or William Baldwin would consider 'Noise' as a significant achievement in their careers. Three stars as in 'okay but...' seems to be fair.
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