By Pat Tintle
Staff Writer
Talk about controversy.
“Noah,” the 2014 film based on the biblical tale known to Christians, Jews and Muslims around the world, had received plenty of criticism ahead of its release last weekend. Christian groups have made their opinions known of the rendering of the Old Testament tale, some perceiving the film as both offensive and blasphemous. Even some Muslim groups have stepped into the conversation, refusing to show the film in their home countries.
But let’s take a step back for a moment and look at this film as what it truly is – entertainment.
A newcomer to the “blockbuster” genre, director Darren Aronofsky (“Requiem for a Dream,” “Black Swan”) brings his signature and highly-stylized filmmaking to a larger audience. Russell Crowe stars as the title character, with Jennifer Connelly, an Aronofsky favorite, playing Noah’s wife Naameh. Emma Watson and Logan Lerman, reunited from their “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” days, play Noah’s children Ila and Ham, while Ray Winstone portrays the movie’s main villain, Tubal Cain.
Generally speaking, the story is recognizable. God, or “The Creator” as he is referred to in the film, tells Noah of a great flood coming to cleanse the earth of its sinners. Realizing that animals are the only “innocents” in this situation, Noah constructs a massive ark to save the animal kingdom from the eventual disaster. However, Aronofsky and his team of filmmakers add in some additional aspects to the story, including a group of stone guardians who watch over Noah and his family as they build the enormous vessel.
Crowe delivers a wonderfully simplistic performance as a man who needs to find a bridge between serving God and the family he loves. Likewise with Connelly, who actually makes the audience believe that there is an ever-present danger to her husband and children. Another notable performance comes from Lerman. Instead of being the heartthrob that audiences have begun to identify him as, he gives the movie a needed sense of skepticism – Is his father a man of God, or is he just out of his mind?
The film, above all, is a visual masterpiece. Its epic display of warfare, flood and spiritualism is grounded by its solid performances from an A-list cast. Many scenes stick in the viewer’s head, even days after seeing the movie. There is a fine art quality to many scenes, which make the film seem to drip right off the pages of the Old Testament. Only Aronofsky can summarize the history of violence in a 15-second montage, which includes nearly every weapon humans have ever wielded.
Despite the artistic qualities throughout the film, “Noah” lacks a constantly engaging story. Characters dwell on problems that could have been solved in a reasonable five minutes. In between some fantastic action sequences, the film noticeably drags until the next action scene. Character development is important, especially in a biblical story, but if used too much, it can make the viewer detest the very people whom they should be rooting for.
But something must be said about Aronofsky’s courage as a filmmaker. He is no stranger to this, previously tackling drug addiction, parental pressure and dealing with not being the person you once were. Now Aronofsky is challenging himself even more. Of course there will be critics who can’t let their imaginations take them on a two-hour journey, but there will also be those who know what vision is all about – perspective.
If you can stand a few stretches of boredom, and appreciate a director retelling a classic tale through his own vision, “Noah” is a movie worth making a trip to the theater.
tintleph11@bonaventure.edu
