The film’s direction is fixated on the conclusion, leaving no attention to the emotional complexities of Marcus’ situation. Although Marcus’ physical journey is depicted, the portrayal of his emotional journey is minimal.

It has its peaks and its downfalls, neglecting consistency in the hopes of a multi-layered conversation. The Ultimate Playlist of Noise is an enthusiastic film that struggles with pace, igniting a spark during some scenes, and burning out during others. Together, they drive across state lines, crossing off Marcus’ list, one by one, until painful revelations force Marcus to confront a future without hearing. He sets off, armed with his late brother’s tape recorder, in the hopes of travelling across the country to record a host of unique noises, from wolves howling at midnight to a hundred soda cans opening at the same time.īefore his journey begins, he bumps into Wendy ( CAM’s Madeline Brewer), a struggling musician escaping to New York City for the opportunity of a lifetime. Marcus soon finds the motivation to create the ultimate bucket list of his favourite sounds, days before his imminent operation. After suffering a seizure during a concert, Marcus finds out that he has to have brain surgery, with the likelihood he’ll lose his hearing as a result. The Ultimate Playlist of Noise strives to tackle each subject matter in the space of a hundred minutes, but the absence of pacing and depth makes for a deflating albeit sincere film, which should have had so much more to say.ĭirected by Bennett Lasseter, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise follows music fanatic Marcus ( Keean Johnson), a high school senior who wears headphones over his earphones (one’s for music, and one’s for ambience). Hulu’s latest release is a heartfelt coming-of-age drama with ambition, setting out to explore a multitude of themes, including loss, acceptance, deafness, and mental illness.

The ultimate playlist of noise