MovieChat Forums > Noise (2004) Discussion > What the Bleep!!!! ? Just Noise...

What the Bleep!!!! ? Just Noise...

posted 19 years ago by taniav
10 replies | jump to latest

I can't believe how bad this movie is. Before I get into this, let me tell you there are a few things I really liked. First, it is DIFFERENT, I liked that the lead was oddly silent, and it gave for an interesting narrative. I liked all the Marc Jacobs Trish Goff wore but it'd look better on someone with a body that has visibly hit puberty. I liked the cinematography and lighting. I think Trish Goff photographs well and really is able to communicate a disturbing angst and pain just by facial expression (undoubtedly learned as a catwalk model, sadly I'm not kidding about that). I like the whole wacko neighbour thing which can be entertaining when it doesn't take itself seriously (however....). Finally THE ONLY REASON TO WATCH THIS MOVIE IS TOO SEE ALLY SHEEDY. She's become this hugely talented actress, you can't help but watch when she's on screen. Her character just blew me away, and she will undoubtedly get her props from hollywood, getting better with age, hopefully she'll go Holly Hunter, or Frances Mcdormand, and someone will finally give her an award even if its later than sooner.
Now the movie. Painful. While the idea of casting a non-actor is interesting, it doesn't work but the direction and story arent' good enough. Ally's character seemed more sane to me then the lead. I should add that Ms. Goff definetly emits an intensity unparalled by major stars but unfortunately seems to be a totally non verbal person. The delivery of her lines fall flat and sound awkward,i.e. monotonous. This is generally what happens when ex-boxers, supermodels, or porn stars are given dialogue, they're almost incomprehensible and you wonder if they've ever spoken in their whole lives. Anyway, the story is bad, I watched the commentary to see if I missed something and well the director's just didn't seem to take the movie seriously, the thing is cast with relatives, and the rest of the time they are bashing their own movie with cynicism and irony: they really seem like idiots who made a movie without knowing why. Oh yeah, "its an homage to Polanski", why not get your own ideas? It seemed like the editor and the director hated their own movie, and who could blame them it was just a bunch of pictures and ally sheedy on a crucifix in the name of independent cinema. PS. While Ms. Goff is a model, could they give her a snack at least when she's working as an "actress", I mean she looked like someone in the final stages of cancer. Hard on the eyes.

[–] douglaschris 19 years ago

Your review was 100% right on. The main character should illicit some kind of emotion from the viewer. Hopefully that emotion is that you like them and are pulling for them. I hated the main character, mainly because she was such a bad actress. This model should stick with modeling and give people a break from having to watch her awful acting.
Ally Sheddy was great. The ONLY good thing about this so called movie.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 0shidori 18 years ago

IAWTC

After this movie was over, I thought to myself, "who cares?"

I can't help but roll my eyes at the main character. Maybe it's because I'm a born-n-bred NYC girl, and transplants like this need to realize they are moving to a noisy city before tearing their hair out and angsting over noise. She could have done a lot more to reciprocate her neighbor's obnoxious behaviour, but she decided to 'martyr' herself by internalizing (mostly; her angry complaint visits were at best half-hearted and meek) what the situation was doing to her and let it fester. People like that NEVER survive long in this city, and we can honestly do more without. I see it as her own fault, since that's the way she chose to deal with it, and it doesn't make me sympathetic. Actually, everything that was supposed to make me sympathetic in this movie about the main character did exactly the opposite.

I agreed with Ally Sheedy's character at the end; this girl was having a 'hard time' because people weren't falling over her or putting her on a pedestal. I've met so many people who come to this city with that sort of mentality, and then quickly become bitter because they think the world, or rather this city owes them more, simply because they've moved here. Sorry, doesn't work that way, deal. If anything you have to work twice as hard at life here than most other places just to keep your head above water (emotionally, financially, whatever). It's just the nature of the beast.

I also can't get over the ridiculous ending. What did they release her for? Her big troubled eyes and her pouty lips? Aww, poor pretty waif, look how troubled she is, we don't need to do more. Let her go. Am I to believe these are supposed to be the same NY cops that love nothing more than to make up charges just to fill their quota mid-month?? Are you kidding? Absolutely no redemption for this spoiled woman's actions, and then she gets to torment another person? I hope the new girl takes the time to torture her before she kills her.

This was a terrible movie, it was unfocused and unbelievable. And very very cold and detached (not in any sort of remarkable way; it was like watching a last minute student project by a kid who was planning to switch majors anyway). As the OP wrote, with the exception of Ally Sheedy, the characters were like watching a bowl of wheat germ. I'm just glad I didn't waste and money on it, as it was on Showtime On Demand. Otherwise I would have really been kicking myself.

[–] Barbourino 18 years ago

I really liked this movie. I thought the lead actress played her part well. I don't know why the original poster is saying he/she thought Ally Sheedy's character was more sane. I definitely didn't get that feeling. The neighbor upstairs was definitely the psychotic bitch in this film. As the movie was starting, I got the feeling it was low budget while observing the opening credits, picture quality, etc. But I was delightfully surprised. The acting overall was not academy award winning, but it was far better than alot of other junk out there these days.

To the new yorker posting before this message: you're nuts! just because you are living in NY doesn't mean you have to put up with this BS from a neighbor. Anyways, you sound like the sort of weirdo who would play the role of the Ally Sheedy character in real life... especially when you say you agree with her in the end. You probably don't notice the noise your neighbors make because you are too busy cranking your stereo 24/7.

[–] davidbdr-1 18 years ago

They all needed a visit from the "Toolbox Murderer." :)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078405/combined (The original low budget turd)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367153/combined (The bigger budget remake turd)

[–] Barbourino 18 years ago

Hey, funny you should mention the ToolBox murderer... my wife and I watched the movie just tonight for the first time! It was pretty good. Yeah, dealing with the noisy upstairs neighbor is certainly better than a visit from toolbox guy!

[–] stephanie_green314 18 years ago

are you nuts this movie sucked, sucked big time. they should even give this movie to anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[–] disconinja 18 years ago

Someone with cancer? =S I thought Trish Goff was gorgeous.. Yeah, a little thin, but she's a MODEL. D'er. They're all malnourished.

[–] cobram-1 18 years ago

Your observations are spot on. This movie would have been a total waste of time if it wasn't for Alley Sheedy's performance, I never realized what a range she has until I saw her performance in this one. Too bad she had to waste her talent on this dog of a movie.

[–] stacey-ann83 11 years ago

I agree with your entire post!!! Well done, taniav!
I came on the boards to comment about the HORRIBLE commentary on the DVD of Noise. That commentary is my biggest peeve. It ruined what little bit of the movie I actually kinda liked. But then when I read the OP, which shared all my complaints, I felt no need to start a whole new dialogue when it expressed so much of my thoughts already!
But back to the commentary... I don't like it when I'm in a group of people and they're having private conversations right in front of me, or whispering, or referencing people and/or situations I obviously will not know. And this commentary was 90 minutes of all that. A conversation that leaves the audience out of the whole thing. Like, next time, just make a three way call when y'all want to talk. Let's not do a commentary instead!

But, like so many others here, I must also share the Sheedy love. She's AMAZING, as always. I wish Alley was my bff and we could give each other crazy eyeliner makeovers (reverse what Claire did in Breakfast Club) and be the type of buddies who send awesome tweets to each other every now and again. But... uhm... maybe I've overshared....