I enjoy a movie where the narrative is not spelt out in big gestures, and I can be satisfied with a movie that does not explain itself. I enjoyed this movie very much, but my 'reading' of it seems quite different to the general opinion. Spoiler alert: Did anyone else wonder why the Constable was standing in a railway station looking dazed and confused in the opening scenes. Is his sudden onset of tinnitus a defence mechanism against some act that he himself may have perpetrated? Why do we see him at home, spinning the barrels of his revolver and sniffing to check if his gun has been fired recently. What is his rumination about the true nature of heaven and hell telling us about his sense of guilt and regret? Why does the character we are led to believe is the killer seek him out and goad him? Are we in fact witnessing a face to face between two killers- one self evident and aware, one with a total black out of memory, presenting as a nagging and inescapable somatic expression. Have another look at it with this perspective and see if it rings true.

It's late at night. Lavinia (Maia Thomas) waits at an inner Melbourne train station, with her framed graduation picture and lost in her mp3 player. The train pulls up. She walks in. She's the perfect poster card for young women at risk, plugged into her music and oblivious. She has no idea of what she has walked into. Her life is about to irretrievably change.Constable McGahan (Brendan Cowell – Love My Way) is one of the police officers called in, but he never makes it. He passes out on the escalators. He has tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears that may or may not signify something more sinister. Either way, his boss won't cop it and punishes him by sending him to the suburban 'caravan' to gather information about this latest, shocking crime.Sounds like the setup for a conventional thriller, but Noise is nothing of the sort. We are pulled into McGahan's world as life aboard the caravan is akin to being in prison. With his tinnitus, it's steadily driving him insane. He has no thought of the case he is supposed to be working on, but instead contemplates his life.Cowell's performance is understated yet mesmerizing as a man whose life is disappearing beneath him, yet he struggles to cling to it. Despite his self absorption, we don't know much about him, which makes his journey a discovery, and all the more fascinating.The real star is director Matthew Saville, whose short feature Roy Hollsdotter Live was equally fresh and contemplative. Here Saville guides sophisticated performances from all the actors (a rarity) as well as his cinematographer, sound designer and composer.Saville's intelligence and depth graces every frame and it won't be long before he's tempted to depart from an Australian industry that can not support him. Let's hope his talent is nurtured, though I suspect he will join the rank and file of a well worn exodus.Noise is a beacon to all filmmakers everywhere, budget challenged or not. It is possible to work with a tried genre and be fresh and cerebral. Easily the best Australian film since Lantana (2001) and a damn good film in any language.

OK for anyone who has seen this movie please note that the majority of Australians do not speak like they constantly have a blocked nose or use such awful slang. Sure generation Y has uses loads of slang, but we don't usually sound unintelligent, especially since most is used over the Internet. I think we mostly pronounce all our letters. We are also people of substance (at least the people I know are).But seriously, why does Australian drama always suck?!?!I left the room after 15 mins unable to stand the stereotyped and BORING characters of the movie. And even though I had the volume turned up i had no idea what the police man (with the ringing ears) and his girlfriend were talking about. I'm like great they are all bogans.I don't care if it was trying to be realistic... it's always the same. Our TV shows and most of our films are pathetic and VERY Embarrassing.we do have some OK actors, I'll give them that.Maybe it's only because I'm young that I can't appreciate this film, but I did see mum rolling her eyes at the characters and their poor excuse of the English language.

I have no hesitation in listing this among the best 5 films of all time. Nuff said. I see arclight has distribution rights in the US but what is happening? Is it being distributed? If so when and where? I am particularly interested in any Boston screenings. Why do most of the really great films from Australia never get a US release? I see I need to write 10 lines. But really to try and say anything more about this film would be almost an insult to it. Anyone seen The Year My Voice Broke, another great Australian film with similar subtle integration of sound and cinematography to a level which literally enchants. Year My Voice Broke came out back in the 80s, got a small release at art-house cinemas in NY and LA but never a Video release. Amazing. One of the greatest world films of all time and completely and utterly unavailable outside Australia. I hope Noise is not going the same way. Incredibly different films, but for me two of the best 5 I have ever seen.