So I visited the local Rincon, GA, Subway shop to order the $5 special footlong (turkey and ham, I believe, in April) after having seen the early matinee of the movie, Noah, last Monday, April 7. Ive gotten to know the manager, Mike, over the past year, and we had discussed various aspects of our lives, including the fact that Mike was fundamental in his religious views. As I reported to Mike, I had just seen Noah and that I thought it was powerful , and I wondered aloud if Mike would enjoy it, considering his fundamental religious point of view. Mike responded, I am not a fundamentalist, I am a biblicist! Immediately, I understood where Mike had positioned himself! Mike hadnt seen the movie (My guess is he wont!), but he had either read about it or heard about it! If you believe the Bible in its strictest , most literal sense, and you expect movies to reflect this, then dont see this movie! However, if you just want to see a good movie that is reflective on many moral issues, then you might very well like this movie! Mike added that the movie never refers to God! In fact, it refers to the Yahweh of the Old Testament as the Creator! Whatever his, her, or its name is, it is that Supreme Being of the Old Testament- that Supreme Being who has become incredibly angry with his, her, or its creation, so much so that Noah interprets his meeting with the Creator as a command from the Creator to terminate humanity, but save the other creatures (the animals) and the planet itself! Darren Aronofsky is the co-writer and director of Noah. He uses his creation, this movie, to posit his points of view. The story in this movie is clearly not the recitation of the story of Noah in the Bible. After his meeting with the Creator, Noah, in Aronofskys view, sees himself as the steward of the Creators planet and animals. On the one hand, Noah is an environmentalist; on the other hand, Noah doesnt see himself as humanitys protector. He believes he has been commanded by the Creator to rid the planet of the evil, represented by humanity. Therefore, at first, it appears we have a rather simple theme-good versus evil. But, as the story unfolds, a new message emerges. I will not give the story away, but , suffice to say, new developments give Noahs family reasons to wonder if Noah received the message from the Creator correctly. Perhaps, its not as simple as good versus evil. A new theme is introduced, that of mercy! Perhaps Noah needs to re-evaluate his meeting with the Creator. Again, the concept of literal interpretation is forwarded. Does Noah have any room for interpretation? In effect, does he have a free will? Noah is a powerful movie. If anything, Aronofsky has taken on too much! Theres a lot going on here! Noah is a powerful character, played powerfully by Russell Crowe! Many reviewers believe this is Russell Crowes best role in years! I concur! And, Russell Crowe has a powerful voice, which manifests itself quite often in this movie! Its a wonderful cast- Jennifer Connolly as his wife, Naameh; Anthony Hopkins as Methusala, Noahs grandfather; Ray Winstone as Tubal- Cain, Noahs primary adversary; Emma Watson as Ila, who increasingly becomes a principal character, as the story unfolds; Logan Lerman and Douglas Booth as Noahs sons. You need a good story to make a good movie! Its a good story, even if its not literally a Biblical one! Suggestion-hang around as the credits roll at the conclusion of the movie. I usually do, anyway! Remember, I mentioned the theme of mercy. Well, the background song, Mercy, is performed by Patti Smith(no, not that Patti Smith!), a spiritual singer, and the Kronos Quartet! It has been called haunting, and I agree! Mercy is the healing wind that whispers as you sleep and that whispers you to sleep! This songs haunting nature reminds me of the Leonard Cohen song, Hallelujah! The version of this song that I really like is a version by the late great Tim Buckley! Movies that I am looking forward to-Transcendence with Johnny Depp; The Grand Budapest Hotel; Cesar Chavez; and Draft Day.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 01:01:34 +0000
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