Noah (2014)

Running Time: 2 Hours 15 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Estimated Budget: $125, 000,000
Estimated Gross (USA 9th April): $76, 388,482

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel
Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson

My Rating: 8/10

I am not a religious person in any way shape or form, yet I was both curious and intrigued by Aronofsky's new film. Known as a director who does nothing by half, I knew this would be a film of epic proportions. I was right.

Darren Aronofsky's Noah is a biblical epic to rival the great Cecil B. DeMille pictures of the 1950's. The likes of The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959).

Focusing on the 4 verse short story in the Bible; Noah last descendant of Seth (brother of Abel and Caine - the sons of Adam and Eve) who has lived his life respecting and protecting the Creator's land, whilst raising a family of 3 boys with his wife Naameh (Connelly). In a dream Noah is contacted by the Creator, in a vivid and rather haunting vision he is told that the world will be destroyed because of man's behaviour. He will flood the earth and wipe out men, Noah is to build an Ark that will protect the innocent - the animals, 2 of each species so that the world may begin again pure. This premise is spectacular and when you get down to the core of it quite a haunting thought. To have one man help rid the earth of an entire species, that which he belongs to is not an easy undertaking and Aronofsky makes clear how hard this task is to complete.

The Ark in question is not how we have come to imagine it in books and pictures, Aronofsky has created a huge floating wooden monstrosity of a grand scale. Even going to the lengths of building the set to the exact specifications in the bible. The director has created a very large story based at an entirely human level taking rather a lot of licence (see the rock angels) but this is not surprising and should not be criticised considering what he has created from such a small original source. Much of what Aronofsky has created within the biblical plot is a metaphor for the messages given in the four verse story, meaning the director has cleverly stuck to the bible more than some would think. What was deeply impressive about the film was that despite its scale and obvious use of CGI to create the amazing effects in the film, Aronofsky has also physically created so many aspects of the film. It was important to him that his actors had something to ground their performances on.

Aronofsky focuses very closely on the characters that layer his film, there are great performances that stand out even against the stunning visuals that Aronofsky has created. To play his Noah, Aronofsky chose an actor that he had wanted to work with before (he asked Crowe to star in The Fountain (2006) but Crowe didn't feel he was right for the part) and one that he knew would be able to fill the shoes of such a famous and strong character. Russell Crowe has starred in many epics on land on sea and in many eras of time he has a long list of credentials that prove he was more than up for taking on this biblical hero; Gladiator (2000) Master and Commander (2003) Les Miserables (2012).  Noah promises to help the Creator in his task of re-creating the world, and making a better place. However he begins to lose himself in the process and become self-sacrificing to the point of losing those he cares for at his own hand. With Aronofsky he has placed his Noah on the list of great biblical performances along with Charlton Heston and many others.

Anthony Hopkins gives an endearing and rather comedic performance (look out for the mention of berries) as Noah's grandfather; the wise Methuselah, the make-up must be praised, Hopkins has been aged convincingly well beyond his years, adding to the awe and realism of his character. Jennifer Connelly who has a tried and tested relationship with Crowe from their previous collaboration; A Beautiful Mind (2001) plays Noah's wife. A woman loyal past the point of expectation, but her undying faith in her husband and his cause are called into question as he gets deeper and deeper into the task. Her place lies first and foremost with her son's, she is intent on keeping them safe which is why she goes along with her husband, so that her boys will have a new life in a better world. When her family comes into the firing line of Noah keeping to his word with the Creator, Naameh has a hard decision to make, backing her husband or going against him for the sake of her sons.

Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth are played by up-and-coming English actor Douglas Booth, Logan Lerman and in his first credited film Leo McHugh Carroll. Japheth is definitely a background character and Booth is short changed as eldest son Shem, though he does get better screen time and scenes towards the end of the film. But the focus in the movie definitely lies with Ham, from the beginning it is clear he is different from his brothers, he does not accept what his father teaches them as quickly. He is curious and if the saying is anything to go by that can be dangerous. Lerman is brilliant in the role, showing perfectly the resentment that is rising steadily in Ham and also portraying the sweet nature he ultimately has. It is through Ham's character that we really see how difficult an undertaking this is for the whole family. Ham represents us as an audience, portraying both the good and the bad that is in us.

Emma Watson in a truly adult role, is proving that there is definitely life after Potter and she is going to make the most of it. She plays Ila, a young girl that is adopted into Noah's family when they find her injured whilst travelling. She adds an interesting morality to the story, she is in a relationship with Shem but due to her injury she is barren and cannot give him children. With a male and female of each species of animal taken onto the ark to repopulate the planet, she questions her right to a place if she cannot provide. Watson gives an incredibly dramatic performance and holds her own against the likes of Crowe and Hopkins. I have no doubt that she will have an outstanding career and go very far.

Ray Winstone plays the bad guy of the movie Tubal-caine, he is the self professed king/leader of the humans and he believes he owns the land and ark which Noah has built. He is not going to go down without a fight intending to make it onto that ark to save himself. There is an interesting relationship between him and Ham, Caine represents everything that the Creator wants to rid his world of. But it is these features that mystify Ham, struggling to accept the words of his father he looks to the only other male figure he can see. This leads to a great story arc for Logan Lerman's character. Winstone hams it up (excuse the pun) very well, obviously at ease playing the baddie. But I personally have never been a fan and find him quite distracting, Winstone is a cockney through and through, nothing wrong with that. But having a cockney talking to Noah in ancient times just personally brings me out of the story. I'd have preferred if he had even attempted a different accent.

All in all despite what some critics might say, Noah is a film that should be seen, and definitely on the big screen, the kind of effects used by Aronofsky can only truly be appreciated on a cinema screen with surround sound. The film also holds a moral message, it is almost something of a warning, has much changed since the times of Noah? Can we take away a message from the film, to be better and treat the planet and each other respectably. I hope so. Happy Earth Day everyone.