The Popkorn Junkie ::White Noise

      From a critical standpoint, I should have absolutely hated "White Noise". The script was weak, the premise was blown way out of context, and Michael Keaton is far too superior an actor for a role like this one. However, throw "White Noise" into the same pile as films like "Congo" and "First Blood", because this picture is definitely a guilty pleasure. I was captivated from beginning to end, and never once let the absurdity of the text get to me. Also, being an avid ghost hunter, I was quite familiar with EVP upon entering the theatre, and "White Noise" did a fairly accurate job of depicting the phenomena and its implications, though I will admit that some of the visual images Michael Keaton sees are not possible and were fabricated for the purpose of this film. As far as I know, EVP has never been used to help find missing persons, and I doubt that it will ever be used in such a capacity. In a sense, this film is more about the idea of EVP than anything else, using the back story to add an extra element of tension and terror.

      Michael Keaton stars as Jonathan Rivers, a successful architect who is living a very comfortable life with his wife Anna (Chandra West), who happens to be one of the most successful female authors in the world. Everything is going perfectly until, one night, Anna does not come home. It is eventually revealed that Anna was involved in an accident and fell into the river, where she drowned -- her body washing ashore weeks later. This prompts a visit from Raymond Price (Ian McNiece), a gentleman who tells Jonathan that Anna has been reaching him, via EVP. Once Jonathan finally works up the nerve to visit Mr. Price, the two begin sessions in which Jonathan is able to listen to communications from Anna. However, if something like EVP could be used to allow the good spirits in -- what about the bad spirits? For the duration of the film, we venture from one peak to the next. Keaton becomes sort of an 'interpreter' for the dead, and starts using the EVP to solve murders before they actually happen.

      What hurts "White Noise" is that it mixes genres. It wants to be a horror film, and handles that quite nicely -- there are some truly terrifying scenes in this film, and they are very creepy and very well directed. But, the film also wants to be a drama. The first half of the film is all drama, and the last half a scare a minute shock fest. Pictures like this usually fail because there are too many extremes -- scenes of intense horror followed by scenes of sappy sweetness. And, this film has that. But, for some reason, it did not bother me as much as it has with other films. Maybe it's the fact that this is a subject matter I find interesting. Maybe it's the fact that Michael Keaton is one of my all-time favorite actors and I love anything he is in. Or, maybe it is the fact that, no matter how absurd this film got, it still managed to keep its primary focus on EVP and what can happen as a result of using it.

      As a comeback vehicle, "White Noise" might not be the gravy train Michael Keaton was hoping for, but it does reintroduce audiences to his face and name. It has been a long time since the name 'Michael Keaton' has been expected to carry the success of a film. Here, he takes the sub-par material and does the best he can with it, and does manage to give some real depth and humanity to his character. Deborah Kara Unger also gives a fine performance...and I suppose this would be kind of a comeback picture for her, in terms of mainstream motion pictures. The highlight of the film for me, however, was the always enjoyable Ian McNiece in a role that was cut short and should have been given extra time to shine. The rest of the actors serve their characters and the rest of the characters serve their purposes. "White Noise" is not a character driven picture.

      Most critics will tear this film apart. In fact, it will probably go down as one of the worst reviewed films of the year. You know what -- I don't care. Most of those critics probably enjoyed this film, but have to say that they hated it because they are too embarrassed to say otherwise. I don't get embarrassed that easily. I thought "White Noise" was frightening, dramatic, and just plain theatrical fun. It is one of those films you watch again and again, learning when the scares are coming. It is also one of those films you quote for cheesy and ridiculous lines. It is just as bad as it is good, and that's how it was meant to be. I highly doubt director Geoffrey Sax was trying for a masterpiece here. "White Noise" was a damn fine horror film to kick off 2005, and I hope the remainder of the horror releases this year can at least match this film for it's shock value and attempted human element.

-- Billy Ray ( 3 out of 4 pops )

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