Amazon.com

Despite an abundance of gaping plot holes, White Noise serves up enough spooky atmosphere to make it worth a look-see for fans of supernatural thrillers. Even when hampered with a shoddy, clumsily written screenplay, Michael Keaton brings professional conviction to his role as a grieving widower who is introduced to the mysterious (and according to paranormal researchers, highly documented) existence of EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomenon, which allows the dead to communicate (one-way only, it seems) from the great beyond, through images and voices recordable on a variety of electronic media such as VCRs, computers, etc. Seeking contact with his recently deceased wife, Keaton finds dire warnings of evil in the afterlife, with connections (all too convenient) to killings and disappearances in his Vancouver, British Columbia vicinity. British TV director Geoffrey Sax brings slick style to this hokum, and a few moments of genuine eeriness, but you may find yourself giggling too much to appreciate the highlights. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (87)

Great Film: A few drops in the DVD qualitry
I enjoyed the film in the Theatre immensely. The DVD version is great, especially the clarity, and the BAM factor in the audio. I saw comments that noted so-called plot holes before seeing the movie, and I still do not see any of the so called plot holes mentioned in the editorial.
This film is well instructed, and done with an exactness and economy that is impressive.After listening to the commentary, its because the director is a BBCalumni. The commentary is not advertised on the box at all, nor on any extras details that I am aware of. I would have given the film 5 stars if it were not for the fact that because of a DVDproduction mess up, Keaton had to leave 15 minutes before the film's end for him to go on a holiday. Whilst the commentary is not the greatest, it does make the key point that this film was forced into a PG-13 rating by the makers of the film cutting some of the key scenes. The studios are getting way too much influence from the right wing Neo-Cons.
Anyways, the extras are great. The key thing about this film, is you will enjoy it, as Kaeton notes, if you buy into the idea of EVP, well, if you have, then these extras will totally chill you !!! They are fun, and totally awesome. The audio on this film is well done, and in 5.1 all I can say is WOW... what a great watch, and a chilling listen ( good audio mix too).

The best of it's kind since "THE RING"!more static please!
Whether you believe in EVP or not, I'd like to think of it from an agnostic standpoint:It can neither be proved, nor disproved.

White Noise has some of the same cliché's as other supernatural based movies (deceased spouse trying to reach husband, think Firefly or What lies beneath, Frequency) but what makes WN a movie apart from the rest in many ways, is that these are not people coming back to haunt or scare.They are ordinary people who's lives were cut short, and with no closure, are trying to reach back to various people so they can send that one last message to a loved one before moving on...

...What moves this movie from different to bizarre is the fact that Michael Keatons character, "Jonathan Rivers", is starting to receive messages in the form of EVP (think of the most annoying thing in the world, Radio Static and Snow TV...now think of once in a while, a message of some sort coming across, like the very energy of their departed soul is still lingering just enough to transmit through electronic means) that are showing him that it's not all about events or people or signs that are within one's past...

...and another thing that is interesting, is the preview of the notion that yes, for every good person out there trying to reach back, there's a bad one as well!Their messages are a mixture of love, hate, direction, and question.

I'd like to think when someone passes away, that their compassion, energy, and capability of love and hate, are strong enough that they do not just burn out like a light-bulb as their physical form does.I find EVP to be a fascinating phenomena.

This movie has many scary moments that will make you jump out of your chair, but more often than not, it's not about SCARING, it's about trying to understand communication from someone who is no longer among the living.

The overall cinematic appeal is excellent, the simple yet driven home glimpses of cassette recorders all the way to high tech digital equalizer equipment sets the mood for a strange and unexplained science that is feared or scoffed by some, reveled and marveled by others.

Michael Keaton is great in his role as an architect who's becomes fascinated with the phenomena of EVP and digs deeper and deeper into it, trying to communicate with a certain someone who's sending him a message.

PROS:Keaton and the surrounding cast are great
EVP is a phenomena that is not proved nor disproved....but voices and images in general recorded static tends to make you shiver....
Cintematically great, it' views of the recorder machines help take us into the sanctum of recording messages from "another side".

CONS:Could have been a little more intense in terms of the surrounding characters and plot.We get tons of Michael Keaton and static and all, but we needed a little more intrigue and mystery on the surface with some of the things (the missing woman) that is going on.
Why is It nearly every drama, crime movie, or intense horror thriller, the husband is an architect?Can we not come up with any other high-profile job?And yes Doctors, Lawyers, and Writers have already been covered!
Why is it every drama dealing with a city has to have something happen in an abandoned Warehouse or Industrial Complex?Are you really meaning to tell me there are not any homeless people hanging out here? Or drug dealers?Or perhaps there's a security guard or cop in the area?

EVP was fun because it delved into a subject that has not really been covered before.Overall I enjoyed the movie and have no major criticisms.Considering all the crap that we are saturated in when it comes to these kinds of films (where 99% are haunted house hashes of some sort) this one is actually overwhelmingly intellactually refreshing!

This film did what it was SUPPOSED to do...
This film did what it was SUPPOSED to do...

Regardless of what you thought of this film, or will think of this film, it does what it is ultimately supposed to do - make you aware of, and perhaps pique your curiosity about Electronic Voice Phenomenon.

I've read what seems like hundreds of reviews here on Amazon.com and haven't seen a single comment on what was REALLY going on with the antogonist(s) here. Read other reviews for the plot and for story spoilers, then read the following and insert it into your thinking. The movie will NOT explain the following, but it helps if you know it.

The film features, more and more as it wends it's way towards drama, an image of menace in the form of a trio of dark spirits. This trio of low spirits FEEDS on the pain and suffering and negative drama of our mortal existences. They go a step beyond feeding and begin CAUSING these empowering negative emotions by affecting the living (EVP researchers) and coercing them to do their sadistic bidding or else killing them as they did Raymond Price if their demands are refused. The more a person is tortured, afraid and just stressed out, the more negative energy they produce for these spirit low-lifes to consume.This is a common basic premise for some cult activities - human sacrifices are pretty bland unless the sacrificee has been tortured and is in a state of utter panic, fear, dread and morbid disarray.The more horrified and suffering the more tasty and nourishing the spiritual energy.

This film could have been a complete freak out psychological horror fest had it focused on the trio and their successive attempts to affect more and more EVP enthusiasts into doing their evil bidding. A chilling scene would have been of our protagonist (Keaton) dying (at the hands of a 'darkly brainwashed' EVP enthusiast) as we managed to feel compassion for his plight, only to feed their evil hunger, and then either show directly, or allude to many, many more 'crazed, serial killers' seeking only the praise and increasing demands of the trio who are growing in power from their work.Believing that there are legions of serial killers out there serving dark demons via White Noise manipulation, you'd hold your loved ones close at all times and check over your shoulder often if it was pulled off convincingly enough.

But that's not what this movie was about. The movie was about EVP and yet Hollywood felt that we wouldn't swallow any bait (by spending our hard earned money) that was not glittery and dripping with dark drama and spell-it-out-for-you violence so we got what we got.However, the film did do something it set out to do - it introduced the whole concept of EVP to untold numbers of people worldwide and in so doing has done it's true purpose. Like the movie or not, believe it or not, make sense of it or not, you are now acutely aware of Electronic Voice Phenomenon.Consider it a nearly two hour infomercial on something you were not likely familiar with before.

Everyone has different perceptions on everything. Some see being alone as a tragic loneliness, others see it as a wonderful time for meditation, self reflection and introspection. Some like rain, some hate it, etc.

Watch the extra EVP materials on the White Noise DVD and whether you want to buy into it or not, just sit alone in a dark room by yourself, perhaps with the TV on to static and allow yourself to drift into a deep state of "What if..."If you manage to go there, decide THEN if the movie was a waste of your time or not. It opened my mind to consider these possibilities regardless of what I thought about the plot, story or actors.

I say perceive the movie for yourself and make up your own mind.

Try something else...... Not scary!
What do you get if you add one part Poltergeist, with one part The Sixth Sense?Answer:White Noise.Michael Keaton stars in this less than stellar performance of a not so original story.

In the film Keaton plays Jonathan Rivers, a highly successful architect, married to Anna Rivers, a highly successful writer.Jonathon plans to put his job on hiatus and join his wife on her new book tour for her soon-to-be release book.However, upon the notice that his wife might be expecting, Anna fails returns home. After the abduction of his wife and her subsequent death, Jonathan becomes sullen and uncaring, distant and unaware of his surroundings until he becomes acquainted with Raymond Price (played by Ian McNeice).Price has also lost someone very close to him, his son, almost 12 years prior.However, Price receives messages, transmissions, and images from entities from the "other" side in the form of E.V.P.s (Electronic Voice Phenomena) or White Noise.The problem is that not all the transmissions are from "good" spirits.

Jonathan gets totally absorbed into this medium, and starts receiving regular messages from his wife.He quickly figures out that the transmissions that he's receiving are actually hints/clues to help him prevent impending death and disaster.The problem is that the "bad" entities are using the same technique to produce death and disaster.

In film has a great premise, and a good beginning; however, it quickly spirals into the absurd, with a trio of evil spirits out to kill mankind.I really believe the film could have been much better with a whole lots less going on.The writers could not decide what story they wanted to tell, and therefore was unable to tell any story effectively.The pinnacle of absurdity begins with Jonathan's wife making visual contact with him in a deserted warehouse, and culminates into what I can only describe as the hell demon sequence in Ghost.I could not figure out what message the film was trying to get across to the audience.What started out as a film about "righting the wrong" or telling love ones that you were okay, and start living your life again; turn into a film of "talk to the dead, and die" with both human and spiritual henchmen.

My advice would be to try another selection; there are much better films out there that are more scary or physiologically thrilling.This film is neither.

(...)

White Noise (DVD) reveiw...
Tagline: The dead are trying to get a hold of you.

Plot Outline: An architect's desire to speak with his wife from beyond the grave, becomes an obsession with supernatural repercussions.

Starring: Michael Keaton

Jonathon Rivers (Michael Keaton) is an architect who loses his wife one night. After trying to get on with his life he comes in contact with a man that may be able to assist him in finding out what happened to his wife the night he lost her. This man Raymond Price (Ian McNeice) tells Jonathon his wife is dead but he can communicate with her through something called EVP. EVP: Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Followers of EVP believe that the dead send messages through the static and White Noise of electronic devices. EVP is an area of paranormal study that has legions of followers worldwide; legendary inventor Thomas Edison was reportedly a believer in EVP. This film was very well done and deserved alot more credit then it received. If you enjoyed THE FORGOTTEN as I did you will indeed enjoy this film as well. Very creepy and it has some jumpy spots as well. Definetly pick this one up!
... Read more

Amazon.com

"It's Pride and Prejudice with dirty bits." That's how screenwriter Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones' Diary), in an interview contained on this disc, describes his adaptation of Sarah Waters's acclaimed novel of lesbian love, betrayal, and redemption in Victorian England. This three-part BBC production chronicles with relish the story of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling, the ravishing image of her mother, Diana Rigg), barely 18, and certain that life holds more for her than her oyster girl's existence. "You'll meet someone who'll have your head spinning and your legs turning to jelly," her sister promises. That someone surprisingly turns out to be "gay and bold"Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a music-hall entertainer, with whom Nan falls instantly, and swooningly, in love. Nan follows her to London, where, as a double act, they become the toast of London, until Kitty's "marriage of convenience" breaks up the act and Nan's heart. The outcast Nan, decked out in Victor/Victoria duds, becomes a streetwalker, and then "tart" to the aptly named Diana Leatherby (Anna Chancellor). This affair, too, comes to "a bad end" as a destitute Nan is deposited back on the streets, where she insinuates herself into the lives of Florence (Jodhi May), a social worker, and her socialist brother. Is Nan "too spoiled and stained for love?" Will she risk her blossoming relationship with Florence when Kitty inevitably returns to rekindle their affair? There is enough "backbiting and bitching" to fuel several seasons of The O.C. Nan's couplings, while tastefully done, do carry what Waters, in the co-interview with Davies, calls "a queer erotic charge." They are graphic by Cinemax standards, let alone the BBC. But the sterling writing and performances will captivate even the most sensitive viewers, making this groundbreaking miniseries, to quote one character, "a delightful evening... a rare treat." --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (36)

The Best TV Has To Offer
First of all I would like you to forget about the lesbian content in Tipping the Velvet for a minute.
As far as writing, acting and directing goes, it is an above average TV mini series (in three parts) that will truly engage you from the very start.
The attention to period detail,the sets and costumes and atmosphere is quite impressive,whereas the adventures of Nan (Rachael Streling)living in the claustrophobic Victorian age can be seen in more general terms as the struggles of a liberated and independant women trying to assert herself in a not so understanding environment.
The fact that she is a lesbian can be seen,in a way, as accidental vis a vis the larger context of a woman's self expression and identity way ahead of its time.
Why Tipping The Velvet works so well, is because it is written and filmed in such a way that Nan's sexuality and with which gender she falls in love does not really matter,as the viewer sympathizes totally with her story.
Geoffrey Sax and writer Andrew Davies (based on a bestselling novel by Sarah Waters), successfully manage to tell the story of Nan both dramatically, emotionally and visually with a consistency that never lapses for a minute.
Now to the lesbian content.
I have to say that Tipping The Velvet has the most daring lesbian scenes ever filmed for the small screen.Each of the three episodes contain Nan's sexual expressions and identity both graphically and emotionally..her passion and true love for Kitty (Keeley Hawes),her desires,her submission to a controlling woman (Anna Chancellor) who uses her younger lover as her 'sex slave' in an Victorian underground world of lesbian orgies,her affair with a maid (a rather explicit scene)and eventually finding a safe berth and the peace of mind.
Tipping The Velvet works so well on both levels, and no matter how exciting the 'lesbian' angle might be, it is at the end, the story of a free spirtied woman's journey in a world that was hostile to such manifestations of independance.A must buy!!

This is Entertainment!
I stumbled on this exquisite mini-series last year on BBC America, where it was pretty badly hacked up by the censors to conform to "American" tastes. Even so, I was immensely impressed by this show's unique perspective on one aspect of Victorian life. Now, having seen the original program as seen in the UK on DVD, all of the missing bits make for an even more satisfying and coherent whole. I won't bother to repeat what other reviewers have said regarding the writing, acting and production. At the core, this is a love story and pretty shamelessly so! Bt whether you are straight or gay, I dare you not to be entertained by the unlikely journey of Nan Astley, from Whitstable oyster girl to music hall star. And by the way, it's pretty damn funny too! Highly recommended!

Highly Recommended
I read both 'Tipping the Velvet' and 'Fingersmith' and absolutely fell in love with the rich and detailed stories the author spins. The books contain so much that I was a little unsure whether a movie would ever be able to match up to Sarah Waters' wonderful writing.

Much to my surprise, the acting, costumes, and story were as carefully and beautifully done as the books themselves. It's obvious that the screenwriter(s) and director took pains to maintain the integrity of the story, with the same amount of grace and delicacy Waters uses in her book.

I recommend the book first and foremost, but once you finish it, you will definitely want to get this DVD!

Brilliant!
I came upon the DVD by chance, bought it, not realising what to expect. As it turned out, I totally love this film! Beautiful film, wonderful cast, superb acting. I really felt for Nan, the lead character, her loneliness and how she longed for companionship. It's a common feeling. Almost 3 solid hours of film and I love every minute of it. Loved the musical score too. I totally recommend it!

A brilliant film!!
This film is a great story about a young girl nancy astling dealing with her mixed feelings for music hall actress kitty butler. Nan finds herself uncontrobly in live with kitty and they share their passion for each other many times. Nan elopes with Kitty to London and becomes part of Kitty's act. Kitty afraid to commit herself totally to nan, betrays nan and marries walter. Nan, upset and distraught runs away to the safety of a rented room and does not emerged for months. Once able to move on from her scared days, she becomes a tom, making her money to pay the rent. Unaware to her a misterious woman has been watching her. One day nan meets Florence and they hit it off, un fortunately for Nan, she is kidnapped by diana leatherby and whisked away as a sex slave. Unable to meet florence Nan regrets this but has no complaints against this unwanted kidnapping. Living with Diana for many months as her slave, Nan gets used to daily life and her role in Diana's affairs. Sick and tired of being bossed around by Diana, Nan and Zena, a servant, embrace and share their passions for each other. Unspectidly Diana and her friends walk in and catch them at it. Diana immediately chucks them out. Nan and Zena go to a boarding house for the night and Nan thinks they will live together. Nan wakes the next morning to find Zena has ran away with all their money and yet again Nan finds herself with no-one and nothing. Nan, with no-where to go, remembers Florence. She tracks Florence down only to feel unwelcomed. But over time Nan and Florence fall in love and share their passions for each other. Nan slowly regains trust and friendship and even returns to the music halls with her own act. Nan then has to make the hardest choice of her life, as Kitty comes to find her and says she wants Nan back.
Nan ponders this, but in the end makes the right choice, the girl she loves, the girl that didn't betray her, Florence. They are not afraid to commit to each other and live the rest of their lives together. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Try to get hold of the uncut version
Why the studio would decide to release this version is beyond my understanding. I bought this version by mistake several months ago while looking for the full version. I purchased one full-length version from ebay not long ago at a very good price and am very happy to own it (the UK 3,5 hours VHS PAL full version is deleted and you can only hope to buy it secondhand). It is as one reviewer said 'a mind boggling' thriller and lots of cuts were made that are important to the plot.

Three stars for this version, because it has been cut to shreds. The uncut version deserves its full five stars. 3,5 hours of film as opposed to the 2 hours cut version, you can imagine missing a lot of suspense!

Fascinating and truly suspenseful
I didn't see the original, so I wasn't disappointed by not seeing the full-length version. (But this version is so good that I can see how it must be disappointing to those who got to see a couple more hours of it.) This is an excellent production, with fine acting by everyone. It's fascinating to see how Eddie Myers seduces so many of the people around him. I really had no idea how it was going to end, and had a clenched stomach for the last 10 minutes. I've seen very few movies that did that to me. I'd say it's some of Timothy Dalton's best work.

Great mini-series - but don't buy this version!!
Framed is one of Timothy Dalton's best pieces of work. But this version has been cut to shreds. The original is four hours long. With this DVD, half the film is missing and it was not padding they cut. If you can find the full version, then great, buy it. Just don't purchase the two hour version.

Where is the rest?!
I am a fan of Timothy Dalton and was elated to see this movie being released for I have both a copy off of A&E tv and
a copy of the orginial via a good friend but when I played this I was simply heartbroken!! DVD's can hold so much more so why did they release such a version? The plot is very hard to follow and the movie doesn't flow like it did in the full version! If you can somehow obtain this version from British TV or the A&E copy by all means go for that and see what you are missing!

Cutting Room Floor
yes, this version has been cut, cut a lot! I don't know how I would react to this version if I weren't so familiar with the original. I miss the missing footage. It added texture to a work that is now little more than plot. Why do this on DVD? and to a character driven film? The original is more than twice as long as this version.I long for the original. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Set amid the racially charged politics of London's Metropolitan PoliceForce, Andrew Davies's deft and gripping adaptation of Othello achieves an ideal balance of realism, contemporary relevance, and respect for the rhythms of Shakespeare's play. John Othello is a black police officer who is named commissioner after he defuses a race riot. His friend and colleague Ben Jago (Shakespeare's Iago) is furious at being passed over for the top job, and he secretly begins a plan to destroy Othello by making him believe that his new wife is having an affair.

Eamonn Walker makes Othello's tragic fall believable and moving, but the story belongs, as it often does on stage, to the villain. Christopher Eccleston's Jago is a wonderfully complex creation, defined by his wickedness but as much a victim of it as any other character. Funny, tragic, and crackling with energy, this is an unmissable performance. Credit should also go to Davies for his script--which echoes Shakespeare's without ever quoting it directly--to a strong supporting cast, and to director Geoffrey Sax, who balances the film's realism with slightly stylized touches that give more dramatic punch to key scenes. Othello offers a daring new version of a familiar story, and it succeeds both as a powerful modern drama and as a testament to Shakespeare's insight into human weaknesses. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Best Modern Re-telling...Ever
I normally dislike movies that dispense with the words of Shakespeare. But for some reason, I loved this modern retelling of Othello.
It didn't feel false, like the so-called 'William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet'.
The acting in it is superb. Eamonn Walker really grabs ahold of the role of John Othello and makes it perfect. I honestly cannot think of another actor that could have played this role to such ability.
Christopher Eccleston's casting to play Ben Jago was the perfect choice. He really gets to the heart of the role. The friend, passed over for the job that was his. The words he uses as narrations are well written, and perfectly acted.
Overall, I give this retelling of Othello 5 stars. Though now, maybe someone can do a full telling of the traditional play in this medium.

Give it a chance...
Take Shakespeare's "Othello", stick it in modern-day England, (where both John Othello and Ben Jago *Iago* work at Scotland Yard,) take some prominent BBC actors, and you've got Masterpiece Theater's "Othello". It's hard not to automaticlly classify most "modern adaptations" as lame... but it's only fair to give them a chance, eh?

If you need even one reason to see this... it's Christopher Eccleston. He is one evil butt-munch. Smiling one minute, glaring daggers the next... and he can pull it off. He's a pretty talented actor, so it's pretty fun to watch him go psycho, lol. It should be a nice addition to any collection of Shakespeare videos. Enjoy!

A Beautiful Modern Retelling of a Shakespearian Classic
I first saw this rendition of "Othello" over a year ago on PBS, and I was absolutely enthralled with it. Unlike other modern renditions of Shakespearian plays, this version replaces the iambic pentameter with a natural scripted dialogue without losing the meaning and power of Shakespeare's orginal writing. You will fall in love and emphathize with Walker's powerful portrayal of the ill-fated Othello, and you will scorn and shudder at Eccleston's perfectly manipulative Jago. This is by far my favorite version of Othello.

Great Movie
Updated version of the classic. Racism, jealously, greed, and treachery all set the stage for murderous mahem and make this movie an absolute must!

Shakespeare? No, but....
I'm one of those people who hates when the classic's are changed in any way, shape or form. There are 4 actors in this film that I like, so I decided to give it a go. Friendly advice: pretend this movie has nothing to do with Shakespeare's Othello. You'll enjoy it and appreciate it much more. The acting was supberb and it was put together very well. It really held my attention. Give it a shot. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

'Widows' proves that there is definitely life after death !
I've always had a lot of time for the acting abilities of Mercedes Reuhl ('The Lost Child,' 'What's Cooking?') and so with expectations high I put the DVD in, sat back, cracked open a cold one and readied myself for another great performance. Yes, I know that you're all now expecting me to ... all over her performance, but where Mercedes maintained a completely unflappable acting disposition, it has to be said that both eternally-annoying Rosie Perez and the emotion-lazy Brooke Shields both combined in trying their hardest in bringing this movie to its grazed knees ! 'Widows' is based on a British mini-series of the same name from back in the late 80s and whereas that was a six-parter, this is just a long ... two hours and forty-five minutes ! Colm Feore ('The Wrong Guy,' 'The Red Violin') as Mr. Stein the luxury art gallery owner is a slow-paced delight to behold and, as you don't have to think too hard to figure out what the probable outcome will be, you can at the very least sit back, kick back and enjoy the penetratingly-hypnotic acting abilities of the great Mercedes Reuhl.[website] ... Read more