Skip to content

It’s Man Vs. Car in NYC and Tim Robbins is “The Rectifier”

Granted, I always secretly hoped that Tom Hanks would play the Aaron Naparstek role in "Honku: The Movie" but Tim Robbins' new film "Noise" is, without question, the early runner-up for Streetsblog's 2008 Movie of the Year:

Granted, I always secretly hoped that Tom Hanks would play the Aaron Naparstek role in “Honku: The Movie” but Tim Robbins’ new film Noise is, without question, the early runner-up for Streetsblog’s 2008 Movie of the Year:

David (Oscar-winner and New York City resident Tim Robbins) is a successful lawyer who can’t stand
the fact that Manhattan is a place where it’s too noisy to get a good
night’s sleep, listen to classical music, or even make love to his wife
without disturbance. Every time David hears a car alarm going off, he
swings into action. Adopting the guise of “The Rectifier,” he engages
in acts of vandalism that satisfy him immensely but which generate no
end of grief from his wife (Bridget Moynahan). They also make him
politically controversial when he provokes the ire of the city’s
arrogant mayor (Oscar-winner William Hurt).

Best of all, “Noise” offers up the most concise and accurate summary of NYPD traffic enforcement policy I’ve ever seen:

“You don’t come when the car is attacking us, only when we’re attacking the car.”

— Tim Robbins to New York City police officer.

Photo of Aaron Naparstek
Aaron Naparstek is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparstek's journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. He was also one of the original cast members of the "War on Cars" podcast. You can find more of his work on his website.

Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.

Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Opinion: Sean Duffy’s ‘Golden Age’ of Dangerous Streets

Ethan Andersen
December 15, 2025

‘I’m Always on the Bus’: How Transit Advocacy Helped Katie Wilson Become Seattle’s Next Mayor

December 12, 2025

Watchdog Wants Hochul To Nix Bus Lane Enforcement Freebies for MTA Drivers

December 11, 2025

More Truck Routes Are Coming To A Street Near You

December 11, 2025

Upstate County’s New Bus Service Will Turn A Transit Desert Into A Rural Network

December 11, 2025
See all posts