2014 - 138 minutes - Adventure/Drama
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Country: United States
IMDB: 6.6Metacritic: 67
RT: 77%
EpicEnthusiast's Rating: B
Watch this movie if you enjoy:
- Emma Watson
- biblical tales (albeit loosely based)
- visually appealing films
- adventure or survival stories
- Emma Watson
Avoid this movie if you dislike:
- Emma Watson...ha, just kidding
- religious films
- special effects
- PG-13 violence
Noah: The classic biblical tale of heroism, survival and rebirth.
Well, sort of.
From the very beginning of Noah, it was clear that director Darren Aronofsky was aiming to tell the story in a modern fashion. He wanted to use special effects to create a visually stunning world and bring the arc and its animals to life. He wanted to use makeup to convey the raw and rugged nature of Noah and his family. He wanted to loosely follow the familiar tale of the Old Testament, while also implementing a fresh, relevant message. And for the most part, he succeeded.
Not surprisingly, the story revolves around Russell Crowe as Noah. This was expected not only because his character was the title of the film, but also because of Crowe's proven track record. Here, he gives one of the most famous biblical figures a new identity. Soon after receiving his message from The Creator, (the only term used to reference God in the film) he establishes a focused, yet grouchy and stern mindset. His stubbornness sometimes reaches cruelty, but he knows what must be done, and won't let anyone, not even his family, get in the way. A hero in the end, yes, but a cynical one. Crowe does a marvelous job, and puts forth a dominant performance.
His surrounding cast excels as well. Anthony Hopkins is fitting as the old and wise Methuselah, and provides a subtle sense of reliability and hope throughout. Jennifer Connelly flourishes as Noah's wife Naameh, and produces one particularly gut-wrenching
sequence.
The real hidden gem of Noah, though, is Emma Watson as Ila. As one of the few women in the film, she lights up the screen with both her ravishing looks, and evident talent. Ila's range of emotion is perhaps the most widespread of all the characters, having to battle infidelity with love, and eventually miraculously giving birth, and caring for children. Watson portrays doubt, deprivation and innocence for half her role, and later switches to a mother that is determined and nurturing. Late in the film, she even consoles a broken Noah, and reassures him of his controversial decisions that birthed a beginning. The role of Ila proved to be a demanding one, but Watson shines the brightest in a very strong cast.
What makes the acting even more impressive is the fact that, at times, the actors don't have a whole lot to work with. It's clear that Aronofsky had a firm grasp on his visions and intentions for Noah, but his script isn't up to par with his production. He collaborated with longtime contributor Ari Handel, which is why the sometimes lackluster writing comes as a bit of a surprise. Handel is more known for producing Aronofsky's films, (The Fountain, Black Swan, The Wrestler, and now Noah) but he did help compose the The Fountain, and you'd expect a little something more from such a frequent partnership.
Oftentimes, the actor's dialogue weighs down otherwise powerful scenes. Suspenseful and gripping confrontations call for realistic and apt words, but they regularly disappoint. For such an intelligent and daring adaptation with complex characters, Noah's script is fairly elementary.
That being said, Aronofsky and cinematographer Matthew Libatique make up for it with their stunning visuals. From beginning to end, Noah is an absolutely gorgeous film, and the aesthetics really make it a worthwhile experience. They're especially impressive when the arc begins to form and Libatique creates sweeping shots through the structure, and gets up close and personal with the arriving creatures. The film has the budget and frequent special effects usage of a hollywood blockbuster, but where it differs is the reasoning behind it. The biblical world that Aronofsky and company create is not only pleasing to look it, but it's also vital to the story.
Overall, Noah is well worth seeing. It has caught some major flak from various religious groups, and I will admit that if you're looking for an entirely accurate re-telling of the famous story, you'll probably be disappointed, if not shocked, but that's far from point. Religious or not, you'll appreciate the strong acting and visual beauty, and you'll relate to it's compelling message. It puts an emphasis on human nature, and how we must make difficult decisions in the hardest of times. Noah is an iconic figure, but he was a human just like the rest of us. Aronofsky's version emphasizes this fact, and it makes for one captivating movie.
-EE
As of April 10, 2014, Noah is in theaters everywhere. Check out the awesome trailer here:
P.S. - Just a quick note on the scores. I'll reiterate that the religious debates that Noah sparked were plentiful, and can most certainly account for the low user score of 6.6 on IMDB. Religious movie-goers that were upset by the accuracy of the film most likely just rated it 1/10, which is simply unfair. The solid Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores of 67 and 77% are more telling.
 |
| Russell Crowe as Noah |
Not surprisingly, the story revolves around Russell Crowe as Noah. This was expected not only because his character was the title of the film, but also because of Crowe's proven track record. Here, he gives one of the most famous biblical figures a new identity. Soon after receiving his message from The Creator, (the only term used to reference God in the film) he establishes a focused, yet grouchy and stern mindset. His stubbornness sometimes reaches cruelty, but he knows what must be done, and won't let anyone, not even his family, get in the way. A hero in the end, yes, but a cynical one. Crowe does a marvelous job, and puts forth a dominant performance.
sequence.
 |
| Emma Watson as Ila |
What makes the acting even more impressive is the fact that, at times, the actors don't have a whole lot to work with. It's clear that Aronofsky had a firm grasp on his visions and intentions for Noah, but his script isn't up to par with his production. He collaborated with longtime contributor Ari Handel, which is why the sometimes lackluster writing comes as a bit of a surprise. Handel is more known for producing Aronofsky's films, (The Fountain, Black Swan, The Wrestler, and now Noah) but he did help compose the The Fountain, and you'd expect a little something more from such a frequent partnership.
Oftentimes, the actor's dialogue weighs down otherwise powerful scenes. Suspenseful and gripping confrontations call for realistic and apt words, but they regularly disappoint. For such an intelligent and daring adaptation with complex characters, Noah's script is fairly elementary.
 |
| The arc under construction |
Overall, Noah is well worth seeing. It has caught some major flak from various religious groups, and I will admit that if you're looking for an entirely accurate re-telling of the famous story, you'll probably be disappointed, if not shocked, but that's far from point. Religious or not, you'll appreciate the strong acting and visual beauty, and you'll relate to it's compelling message. It puts an emphasis on human nature, and how we must make difficult decisions in the hardest of times. Noah is an iconic figure, but he was a human just like the rest of us. Aronofsky's version emphasizes this fact, and it makes for one captivating movie.
-EE
As of April 10, 2014, Noah is in theaters everywhere. Check out the awesome trailer here:
P.S. - Just a quick note on the scores. I'll reiterate that the religious debates that Noah sparked were plentiful, and can most certainly account for the low user score of 6.6 on IMDB. Religious movie-goers that were upset by the accuracy of the film most likely just rated it 1/10, which is simply unfair. The solid Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores of 67 and 77% are more telling.
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