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Noah
Paramount // PG-13 // July 29, 2014
List Price: $39.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Film:
Going into Noah with the expectation that Darren Aronofsky's going to color within the lines of gospel would be a mistake, though it's understandable why some might expect him to do so. The name Noah in itself and the premise lying underneath his narrative are, after all, modeled from a brief, fantastical story told in the book of Genesis (and also appears in other religion's texts), which Aronofsky became interested in at a very young age. What he sees in the parable will differ from the way others view the saga of the great flood, though, and the man tasked by a higher power to build an animal-preserving vessel worth weathering it: Aronofsky embraces the line between devotion and madness, the harshness behind purging all life from the planet, and the haunting moral conflict in standing by and observing the benevolent creator's judgment. There's a lot of room for interpretation around "Noah's Ark", and Aronofsky uses that freedom to craft a mesmerizing vision with a flexible grasp on spirituality and the integrity of mankind, though it's also an unsubtle tonal departure that won't be for everyone.
Noah begins with antiquated title cards and brisk stylistic flashes into the origin of humanity, introducing us to the three children born of the Garden of Eden -- Cain, Abel, and Seth -- and how the desirous and destructive side of humans led to Earth's corruption, like a more malignant and unsustainable form of urban sprawl. The descendants of Seth, however, safeguard and nourish the world outside the corruption's reach to the best of their ability, a task passed down through generations as they survive on only what's absolutely necessary
from the earth. Noah (Russell Crowe) marks the last of the lineage (along with his children), living off the land with his family as wanderers in the sparse landscape, revering the Creator's design through a pure life. One day, Noah receives a mystical sign from above in the form of a raindrop which immediately manifests into a flower upon hitting the ground, followed later by haunting visions of a great flood, the purging of mankind, and the preservation of the Creator's other creatures to begin again. The message becomes clear: Noah must build a vessel to house the beasts, else they'll meet the same fate as the lost humans.
The uniquely hued and unsullied expansiveness of Iceland provides an ideal setting for Noah, which is very much the work of the filmmakers behind The Fountain's philosophical whimsy and sensory splendor. Aronofsky approaches the concept like a pseudo-apocalyptic fantasy allegory instead of strict adherence to religious intentions, without any real way of distinguishing chronology without the viewer's meta-contextual input. Lyrical cinematography guided by Black Swan's Matthew Libatique, coupled with Clint Mansell's expressive score and precise visual effects that bolster its dreaminess, enriches that otherworldly essence of the setting through stark silhouettes against ethereal skylines (reminiscent of Nicolas Roeg's work), hikes through the disintegrated ruins of unsuccessful civilization, and sharply-edited time progressions of an evolving stream within the landscape. The organic, desolate atmosphere convincingly sets the stage for a clash between preservers and consumers of the gifts bestowed to them, along with the presence of the Watchers, gnarly rock monsters punished for their prior intervention in the affairs of man.
Aronofsky and co-writer Ari Handel have shaped the central conceit behind Noah into a versatile, somewhat cryptic composite of the customary versions of the story and fanciful divergences, an attempt to make it accessible for both the devout and the skeptical as a piece of dramatic entertainment. Opportune magical touches elevate the fantasy milieu, from the inclusion of mystical rocks used for igniting fire and shamanic medicine to sedative smoke for the animals aboard the ark, which uniquely
work around situational problems. They've done the same thing with their vision of the "Creator", too: a benign yet restrained omniscience whose participation in the events leading up to the flood have been carefully kept at bay to elevate the human aspects of the story, without diminishing his importance or the reverence displayed by Noah's family. A fusion of theology and pragmatism underneath the Creator's touch takes shape as a result, while forging a film that's spiritual without being specific.
An austere balance between faith and personal perception arises in Noah, allowing Aronofsky to comment on the nature of belief as the descendant of Seth constructs a vessel specifically made for not saving human lives. Russell Crowe admirably sculpts his transition from a self-possessed druidic protector to a burdened man whose faith isn't allowed to falter, crafting a solemn persona that gradually simmers as his resolve gets pushed almost to a point of zealousness. The characters' reactions to his descent are potent and nuanced, if a bit one-note. Jennifer Connelly provides an ample and sympathetic offset to Noah's steadfastness as his wife Naameh, while Logan Lerman gives his middle son, Ham, a certain hangdog self-interest that works well with their clash over his livelihood following the flood. The conflict created over their adopted daughter, Ila, and her place on the ark is emphatically embraced by Emma Watson, too, while his father Methuselah's sagely interjections and light comic relief are properly aged by Anthony Hopkins.
Perhaps the most challenging element of Noah comes in its depiction of the wickedness and entitlement of humanity -- the purpose behind the Creator's purge in the first place -- which often goes blissfully overlooked in other harmlessly jubilant representations of the material. Helmed by Tabul-cain, with Ray Winstone uncannily channeling Mickey Rourke, the abandoned souls of mankind are painted in broad, discomforting strokes through the temptation of violence and the degradation of their moral compass, lending fuel to the film's blockbuster scale once the time of the flood arrives. Granted, its obligation towards the epic
scope of a battle reminiscent of LOTR's Helm's Deep feels somewhat cumbersome; yet, there's weight in its thematic purpose, supporting the Creator's judgment and offering a gradient of virtue based on the innocents caught in this melancholic grand design. Giving the deviants a face and a voice becomes the ugly side to the great flood that, despite the film's tone rushing in a severe direction, feels vital to appreciating the importance of the story itself.
It took bravado for Darren Aronofsky to get his hands dirty with an above-$100m project focused on the hazards of higher-being belief and the ugliness of human fallibility and egotism, yet he makes every penny and moment count in the moral spectacle of it all, cresting higher once the flood arrives. There's no denying the uptick in bleakness once the magnificently-constructed ark has shuttered its doors, where the liberties taken by the writers manifest into harrowing conflicts built around interpreting and undermining the Creator's goals. However, there are also rays of hard-earned faith in human nature and perspective once Noah rides out the storm and reaches its destination, rewarding the rollercoaster ride with bittersweet, intimate moments of catharsis and resolved turmoil that I'd like to think will resonate with both believers and cynics. There's a lot of breathtaking ambition crammed into this liberal reimaginging of a short segment from scripture, and while it's not watertight in its emotional integrity or indulgent blockbuster inclinations, there's a lot of distinct, fearless beauty to behold.
The Blu-ray:
Video and Audio:
Noah delivers quite a miraculous audiovisual package on Blu-ray, hallmarked by an absolutely breath-snatching 1.85:1-framed, 1080p AVC transfer. Having seen the film theatrically, I honestly couldn't have asked for more here: the Icelandic landscapes present vibrant greens and challenging deep-grays and blacks; plays on the setting and rising sun project inspiring gradients from deep blue to a low-radiance orange; and the weathered wood of the ark looks fantastic either in the story grays of rainfall or in the low lighting inside the ark itself. Close-ups on Russell Crowe's bearded mug showcase effortless textures in his windswept skin, facial hair, and makeshift apocalyptic clothing, whether he's framed by the crystal-clear stars of a skyline or the fluently-rendered raindrops beginning the flood. The digital effects are magnificently tight -- from the warm yellow glow and gnarled stone of the Watchers to the scales, hair follicles, and flapping wings of birds -- while contrast levels are incredibly deep yet courteous to the details looming within. The stunning and moody landscapes, the potent visuals, and pitch-perfect rendering of it all form this into a demo-worthy visual treat on Blu-ray.
The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is its own force of nature, thunderous and dynamic during its many scenes of bombast and intricately nuanced in its personal moments. Clint Mansell's score frequently drives the film with hefty activity from all channels, yet it never overbears the environmental effects, allowing sounds like the rustling of leaves in the forest, a rushing stream, and the swirling flaps of wings and chirps from a cloud of birds to organically resonate alongside it. Minuscule sound elements, like the plucking of a small flower and the scraping of moss into a pipe in our introduction to Noah, are incredibly crisp and convincing in their natural higher-pitched presence, while the grinding rumble of the Watchers' stony movement command a full yet innate usage of atmospheric bass. Dialogue is, in a word, impeccable in its escalation in tones and intimacy, never distorting and always credibly natural. Yet when the film escalates towards the intensity of the flood itself -- torrents of water, a rush of battle-ready men, massive claps of thunder, and the creaking of the ark in the waves -- it takes the activity on a grandiloquent ride with chest-rattling potency. Modern sound designs don't get much better than this. Subtitles and alternate-language 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks are available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Special Features:
Opening up the extras tab on the Blu-ray might seem a little disappointing at first, revealing a collection of only three features focused on Iceland at a shooting location and the Ark's interior and exterior. However, when you hit the "Play All" button through Paramount's infrastructure, it's revealed that these are actually three segments in a rather lengthy exploration of the making of the film, artfully shot and edited by Niko Tavernise, responsible for nearly the same thing with Black Swan: Metamorphosis. Once again, this feature pieces together traditional elements one might find in a studio-produced arrangement of featurettes -- cutaway interviews to the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes glimpses at production and makeup, comparisons to conceptual art -- yet it does so in a methodical and far more expository fashion, cozy and casually revealing in the way it glimpses at Aronofsky and the process of achieving his scenes. With each segment forwarded by a verse from the Bible and accompanied by absorbing yet unobtrusive music, the three pieces makes you appreciate the scale and the effort of the filmmaking; however, they don't hit you over the head with 'em, instead letting the viewer become an invited observer.
Iceland: Extreme Beauty (20:40, 16x9 HD) explores the exquisiteness of the landscape, sure, but it also unceremoniously reveals the complexities behind filming in the location: airlifting supplies and relishing the area's elf lore, the erratic nature of weather and cloud patterns for capturing specific types of light, and reaching tricky shooting locations. The Ark Exterior: A Battle for 300 Cubits (19:46, 16x9 HD) transitions to the New York shooting location for the mammoth vessel erected for the film, highlighting the usage of a large, nondescript field for the erection of an ark with somewhat accurate dimensions. It also, however, offers a unique glimpse into Aronofsky's passion behind the project, where he tells the story of his fascination with "Noah's Ark" as a narrative and the skewed planning time vs. shooting opportunity nature of the beast. The Ark Interior: Animals Two By Two (19:55, 16x9 HD) offers a hard look -- both inside and outside -- at the stage utilized for the massive wooden interior, with a time-progression shot of the engineering work put into building the thing. Subtle comparisons to visual effects and raw footage to the final scenes work their way in here, with some really clever point-of-view and angled glimpses at the movie-making magic (there's a great shot here of a rising platform and tracking of Crowe's movement).
Disc Two is a bare-bones DVD presentation of the film, and the Blu-ray also comes with an Ultraviolet Digital Download slip.
Final Thoughts:
Like many other adaptations (be it historical or fiction) over the years, Darren Aronofsky takes liberties in his vision for Noah, using the sparse infrastructure supplied by scripture to tell a tale of humanity's corrupt reach, the judgment of their Creator, and the man tasked with preserving life during the cleansing apocalypse through outlandish means. I applaud the director's ability to be faithful to the story's intentions as he evokes a novel fantasy-inspired setting for the events, while constructing a parable out of its cautionary musings about the merits and downfalls of mankind and the obscured, interpretive nature of belief in higher powers. Aronofsky's darkly poetic and poignant perspective stands at the core of the film, while a gradient of strong performances -- including an understandably burdened and frustrated Noah through Russell Crowe's fitting intensity -- interweave within the story's thematic buildup, the cataclysmic blockbuster arrival of the flood, and the wash of introspective conflict and devout interpretation in its wake. The stark boldness won't be to everyone's tastes, and it's certainly not perfect, but I found the journey and destination of it all quite absorbing. Paramount's Blu-ray looks and sounds utterly phenomenal, and the one-hour segmented documentary is well worth the time. Strongly Recommended considering its polarizing nature, even though the temptation to give it a higher stamp of approval is there.
Thomas Spurlin, Staff Reviewer -- DVDTalk Reviews | Personal Blog/Site
 |
Going into Noah with the expectation that Darren Aronofsky's going to color within the lines of gospel would be a mistake, though it's understandable why some might expect him to do so. The name Noah in itself and the premise lying underneath his narrative are, after all, modeled from a brief, fantastical story told in the book of Genesis (and also appears in other religion's texts), which Aronofsky became interested in at a very young age. What he sees in the parable will differ from the way others view the saga of the great flood, though, and the man tasked by a higher power to build an animal-preserving vessel worth weathering it: Aronofsky embraces the line between devotion and madness, the harshness behind purging all life from the planet, and the haunting moral conflict in standing by and observing the benevolent creator's judgment. There's a lot of room for interpretation around "Noah's Ark", and Aronofsky uses that freedom to craft a mesmerizing vision with a flexible grasp on spirituality and the integrity of mankind, though it's also an unsubtle tonal departure that won't be for everyone.
Noah begins with antiquated title cards and brisk stylistic flashes into the origin of humanity, introducing us to the three children born of the Garden of Eden -- Cain, Abel, and Seth -- and how the desirous and destructive side of humans led to Earth's corruption, like a more malignant and unsustainable form of urban sprawl. The descendants of Seth, however, safeguard and nourish the world outside the corruption's reach to the best of their ability, a task passed down through generations as they survive on only what's absolutely necessary
from the earth. Noah (Russell Crowe) marks the last of the lineage (along with his children), living off the land with his family as wanderers in the sparse landscape, revering the Creator's design through a pure life. One day, Noah receives a mystical sign from above in the form of a raindrop which immediately manifests into a flower upon hitting the ground, followed later by haunting visions of a great flood, the purging of mankind, and the preservation of the Creator's other creatures to begin again. The message becomes clear: Noah must build a vessel to house the beasts, else they'll meet the same fate as the lost humans. The uniquely hued and unsullied expansiveness of Iceland provides an ideal setting for Noah, which is very much the work of the filmmakers behind The Fountain's philosophical whimsy and sensory splendor. Aronofsky approaches the concept like a pseudo-apocalyptic fantasy allegory instead of strict adherence to religious intentions, without any real way of distinguishing chronology without the viewer's meta-contextual input. Lyrical cinematography guided by Black Swan's Matthew Libatique, coupled with Clint Mansell's expressive score and precise visual effects that bolster its dreaminess, enriches that otherworldly essence of the setting through stark silhouettes against ethereal skylines (reminiscent of Nicolas Roeg's work), hikes through the disintegrated ruins of unsuccessful civilization, and sharply-edited time progressions of an evolving stream within the landscape. The organic, desolate atmosphere convincingly sets the stage for a clash between preservers and consumers of the gifts bestowed to them, along with the presence of the Watchers, gnarly rock monsters punished for their prior intervention in the affairs of man.
Aronofsky and co-writer Ari Handel have shaped the central conceit behind Noah into a versatile, somewhat cryptic composite of the customary versions of the story and fanciful divergences, an attempt to make it accessible for both the devout and the skeptical as a piece of dramatic entertainment. Opportune magical touches elevate the fantasy milieu, from the inclusion of mystical rocks used for igniting fire and shamanic medicine to sedative smoke for the animals aboard the ark, which uniquely
work around situational problems. They've done the same thing with their vision of the "Creator", too: a benign yet restrained omniscience whose participation in the events leading up to the flood have been carefully kept at bay to elevate the human aspects of the story, without diminishing his importance or the reverence displayed by Noah's family. A fusion of theology and pragmatism underneath the Creator's touch takes shape as a result, while forging a film that's spiritual without being specific. An austere balance between faith and personal perception arises in Noah, allowing Aronofsky to comment on the nature of belief as the descendant of Seth constructs a vessel specifically made for not saving human lives. Russell Crowe admirably sculpts his transition from a self-possessed druidic protector to a burdened man whose faith isn't allowed to falter, crafting a solemn persona that gradually simmers as his resolve gets pushed almost to a point of zealousness. The characters' reactions to his descent are potent and nuanced, if a bit one-note. Jennifer Connelly provides an ample and sympathetic offset to Noah's steadfastness as his wife Naameh, while Logan Lerman gives his middle son, Ham, a certain hangdog self-interest that works well with their clash over his livelihood following the flood. The conflict created over their adopted daughter, Ila, and her place on the ark is emphatically embraced by Emma Watson, too, while his father Methuselah's sagely interjections and light comic relief are properly aged by Anthony Hopkins.
Perhaps the most challenging element of Noah comes in its depiction of the wickedness and entitlement of humanity -- the purpose behind the Creator's purge in the first place -- which often goes blissfully overlooked in other harmlessly jubilant representations of the material. Helmed by Tabul-cain, with Ray Winstone uncannily channeling Mickey Rourke, the abandoned souls of mankind are painted in broad, discomforting strokes through the temptation of violence and the degradation of their moral compass, lending fuel to the film's blockbuster scale once the time of the flood arrives. Granted, its obligation towards the epic
scope of a battle reminiscent of LOTR's Helm's Deep feels somewhat cumbersome; yet, there's weight in its thematic purpose, supporting the Creator's judgment and offering a gradient of virtue based on the innocents caught in this melancholic grand design. Giving the deviants a face and a voice becomes the ugly side to the great flood that, despite the film's tone rushing in a severe direction, feels vital to appreciating the importance of the story itself. It took bravado for Darren Aronofsky to get his hands dirty with an above-$100m project focused on the hazards of higher-being belief and the ugliness of human fallibility and egotism, yet he makes every penny and moment count in the moral spectacle of it all, cresting higher once the flood arrives. There's no denying the uptick in bleakness once the magnificently-constructed ark has shuttered its doors, where the liberties taken by the writers manifest into harrowing conflicts built around interpreting and undermining the Creator's goals. However, there are also rays of hard-earned faith in human nature and perspective once Noah rides out the storm and reaches its destination, rewarding the rollercoaster ride with bittersweet, intimate moments of catharsis and resolved turmoil that I'd like to think will resonate with both believers and cynics. There's a lot of breathtaking ambition crammed into this liberal reimaginging of a short segment from scripture, and while it's not watertight in its emotional integrity or indulgent blockbuster inclinations, there's a lot of distinct, fearless beauty to behold.
The Blu-ray:
 |  |
Video and Audio:
Noah delivers quite a miraculous audiovisual package on Blu-ray, hallmarked by an absolutely breath-snatching 1.85:1-framed, 1080p AVC transfer. Having seen the film theatrically, I honestly couldn't have asked for more here: the Icelandic landscapes present vibrant greens and challenging deep-grays and blacks; plays on the setting and rising sun project inspiring gradients from deep blue to a low-radiance orange; and the weathered wood of the ark looks fantastic either in the story grays of rainfall or in the low lighting inside the ark itself. Close-ups on Russell Crowe's bearded mug showcase effortless textures in his windswept skin, facial hair, and makeshift apocalyptic clothing, whether he's framed by the crystal-clear stars of a skyline or the fluently-rendered raindrops beginning the flood. The digital effects are magnificently tight -- from the warm yellow glow and gnarled stone of the Watchers to the scales, hair follicles, and flapping wings of birds -- while contrast levels are incredibly deep yet courteous to the details looming within. The stunning and moody landscapes, the potent visuals, and pitch-perfect rendering of it all form this into a demo-worthy visual treat on Blu-ray.
The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is its own force of nature, thunderous and dynamic during its many scenes of bombast and intricately nuanced in its personal moments. Clint Mansell's score frequently drives the film with hefty activity from all channels, yet it never overbears the environmental effects, allowing sounds like the rustling of leaves in the forest, a rushing stream, and the swirling flaps of wings and chirps from a cloud of birds to organically resonate alongside it. Minuscule sound elements, like the plucking of a small flower and the scraping of moss into a pipe in our introduction to Noah, are incredibly crisp and convincing in their natural higher-pitched presence, while the grinding rumble of the Watchers' stony movement command a full yet innate usage of atmospheric bass. Dialogue is, in a word, impeccable in its escalation in tones and intimacy, never distorting and always credibly natural. Yet when the film escalates towards the intensity of the flood itself -- torrents of water, a rush of battle-ready men, massive claps of thunder, and the creaking of the ark in the waves -- it takes the activity on a grandiloquent ride with chest-rattling potency. Modern sound designs don't get much better than this. Subtitles and alternate-language 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks are available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Special Features:
Opening up the extras tab on the Blu-ray might seem a little disappointing at first, revealing a collection of only three features focused on Iceland at a shooting location and the Ark's interior and exterior. However, when you hit the "Play All" button through Paramount's infrastructure, it's revealed that these are actually three segments in a rather lengthy exploration of the making of the film, artfully shot and edited by Niko Tavernise, responsible for nearly the same thing with Black Swan: Metamorphosis. Once again, this feature pieces together traditional elements one might find in a studio-produced arrangement of featurettes -- cutaway interviews to the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes glimpses at production and makeup, comparisons to conceptual art -- yet it does so in a methodical and far more expository fashion, cozy and casually revealing in the way it glimpses at Aronofsky and the process of achieving his scenes. With each segment forwarded by a verse from the Bible and accompanied by absorbing yet unobtrusive music, the three pieces makes you appreciate the scale and the effort of the filmmaking; however, they don't hit you over the head with 'em, instead letting the viewer become an invited observer. Iceland: Extreme Beauty (20:40, 16x9 HD) explores the exquisiteness of the landscape, sure, but it also unceremoniously reveals the complexities behind filming in the location: airlifting supplies and relishing the area's elf lore, the erratic nature of weather and cloud patterns for capturing specific types of light, and reaching tricky shooting locations. The Ark Exterior: A Battle for 300 Cubits (19:46, 16x9 HD) transitions to the New York shooting location for the mammoth vessel erected for the film, highlighting the usage of a large, nondescript field for the erection of an ark with somewhat accurate dimensions. It also, however, offers a unique glimpse into Aronofsky's passion behind the project, where he tells the story of his fascination with "Noah's Ark" as a narrative and the skewed planning time vs. shooting opportunity nature of the beast. The Ark Interior: Animals Two By Two (19:55, 16x9 HD) offers a hard look -- both inside and outside -- at the stage utilized for the massive wooden interior, with a time-progression shot of the engineering work put into building the thing. Subtle comparisons to visual effects and raw footage to the final scenes work their way in here, with some really clever point-of-view and angled glimpses at the movie-making magic (there's a great shot here of a rising platform and tracking of Crowe's movement).
Disc Two is a bare-bones DVD presentation of the film, and the Blu-ray also comes with an Ultraviolet Digital Download slip.
Final Thoughts:
Like many other adaptations (be it historical or fiction) over the years, Darren Aronofsky takes liberties in his vision for Noah, using the sparse infrastructure supplied by scripture to tell a tale of humanity's corrupt reach, the judgment of their Creator, and the man tasked with preserving life during the cleansing apocalypse through outlandish means. I applaud the director's ability to be faithful to the story's intentions as he evokes a novel fantasy-inspired setting for the events, while constructing a parable out of its cautionary musings about the merits and downfalls of mankind and the obscured, interpretive nature of belief in higher powers. Aronofsky's darkly poetic and poignant perspective stands at the core of the film, while a gradient of strong performances -- including an understandably burdened and frustrated Noah through Russell Crowe's fitting intensity -- interweave within the story's thematic buildup, the cataclysmic blockbuster arrival of the flood, and the wash of introspective conflict and devout interpretation in its wake. The stark boldness won't be to everyone's tastes, and it's certainly not perfect, but I found the journey and destination of it all quite absorbing. Paramount's Blu-ray looks and sounds utterly phenomenal, and the one-hour segmented documentary is well worth the time. Strongly Recommended considering its polarizing nature, even though the temptation to give it a higher stamp of approval is there.
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