Noah, a God-fearing man, is tasked with building an ark to survive an incoming flood, as foretold in a divine message. He struggles against an evil mob led by Tubal-cain, who wants to survive the coming apocalypse. Noah receives help from his wife Naameh and father Methuselah, but must also contend with their attempts to sway him. Massive rock people also lend aid. Though it takes some dramatic liberties, the movie follows the core biblical story of Noah and the flood. It provides an entertaining spectacle and escape through its fantasy landscape and engaging characters.

1. Noah, the God-fearing, scowl-wearing family man, is put to the test in Darren Aronofsky’s two
hour and 12 minute action epic. In this dark, barren landscape, beset by evil men ravaging the
countryside, Noah (Russell Crowe) is a nature-loving loner providing for his family until a divine
message from “the creator” sends him on a mission to build an ark in order to survive the
coming flood.
Biblical comparisons aside for the moment, this is an entertaining spectacle of a movie, much of
the drama centering around the confrontations between Noah and the ugly, sinful mob, whose
leader, Tubal-cain, played with genius and dark merriment by Ray Winstone, is determined to
survive the coming apocalypse.
Lending Noah a hand, and some guidance, are his wife Naameh, played with a sense of
earnestness and much hysterical pleading by Jennifer Connelly, and Methuselah, his father,
ugliness personified but embodied with a playful spirit by Anthony Hopkins, both whom use
their influences to try and bend Noah to their causes. Also lending a hand are massive rock
people, fallen angels that have been encased in rock and roam the desolate desert-like
landscape, whose purpose is unclear, especially if you are comparing it to the written biblical
account.
Since this is a Hollywood, not a biblical, production, the typical dramatic scenarios are played
out in ways familiar to watchers of big screen disaster flicks…the family issues, the chase
scenes, the self-doubting hero, the all seems lost moment and then…the formulaic Hollywood
ending. I will say, having read the biblical story of Noah, that the movie follows the main story,
with a few unbiblical additions for dramatic effect, and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment
of the film. If you’re looking for authenticity read your bible. If you’re looking for escapist
fantasy (this movie’s look reminded me of some scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, kind
of a “Middle Earth” landscape) then you’ll get it here, with engaging performances as well from
Douglas Booth and Logan Lerman (as Shem and Ham, respectively), and Emma Watson (Ila) as
the girl whose presence sets off much of the action in the film.
The action scenes are exciting and the soundtrack bristles with booms and great waves of
destructive force as the melodrama outside the ark gives way to dramatic action inside it. It’s a
rough ride for Noah as he attempts to do the right thing for his family and for God. Noah’s
divided loyalties are well played by Crowe, and the screenplay that Aronofsky and Ari Handel
have produced does not take away from the bible story, but rather adds excitement through
their use of dramatic license. I would recommend the movie for fans of action/adventure flicks,
and those with an interest in seeing a well-known bible story immortalized on the modern day
big screen.
Paul Viole
516-451-1572
peviole@verizon.net