Review of Noah (2013) by Armand J — 18 Dec 2014

Just a couple things to note off the bat:

1) I am not versed with the bible...like at all.

2) Kudos to Aronofsky for legitimately asking major moral and ethical questions that Noah faced.

3) Finally, this movie was awesome/epic/etc, whatever superlative you want to give it. A fantastic movie? Not so much. But, it was nevertheless entertaining and thought-provoking.

Entering into the movie, my expectations were actually pretty high because I thought the trailer looked epic and incredible. Thankfully, the movie actually met/surpassed my expectations to a certain extent. Honestly, this movie could not have been as good as it was without Aronofsky (one of my favorite directors) at the helm. I love pretty much all his movies (..the fountain....) and I was amazed to see what he could do with a massive budget. Also, Russell Crowe gives one of his best understated performances in sometime, and he seriously carried this movie on his shoulders. (As a side note, the entire cast was pretty great especially Connelly, Winstone, Watson, and Hopkins - his berry storyline was actually hilarious). Moreover, the big budget that Aronofsky was given allowed for incredible visuals. When I say incredible, I seriously mean incredible. They were fantastically real and epic, especially considering this story is of such a grand scope. Although there were just a few times that things looked a bit too CGI'd, it didn't detract from the movie. Then the flood happened, and holy hell that flood was awesome.

On a completely different aspect of the movie, I respect Aronofsky so much because his movies are thought provoking and intellectual. Noah was no different. Especially considering that the entire Bible is essentially a handbook for how to live life, Noah was faced with a ridiculous amount of moral dilemmas that he needed to face because the "Creator" put him in that position. This movie has the fortitude to both pose and answer the questions that it brings up; however, it also allows for the audience to think about it as well. We are also left to ponder some of the decisions and dilemmas that Noah makes and is faced with. That alone is a mark of a good movie.

Anyway, I'm rambling. So, on the whole, I really would advise people to see this movie. No, it's not a masterpiece. No, it probably won't win any oscars (maybe visual effects? eh). No, it won't blow your mind. However, is it worth your time and mind to see a movie that can both be exhilarating and reflective about a timeless story grounded in man's view? Hell yes. Go watch it.