New NOAH Featurette and a Plethora of Images – Early Reviews Positive

Paramount Pictures’ NOAH movie will finally be released in theaters Friday, March 28th and the first reviews coming in are very positive.

Variety critic Scott Foundas calls director Darren Aronofsky’s film a, “bold, personal, visually extravagant take on the Old Testament tale.” (review)

The Hollywood Reporter’s critic, Todd McCarthy, writes, “Working on by far his biggest budget in the wake of the great global success of Black Swan, Aronofsky bulks up his film not only with naturalistic spectacle but with fantastical elements that evoke both Ray Harryhausen and Peter Jackson; creatures rise up from the sea, a whole forest takes instantaneous shape at Noah’s convenience and there is far more swordplay and fighting than one ever imagined in this story.” (review)

Devin Faraci over at Badass Digest has the best review of the bunch. “And don’t get me started on what God is doing. Noah doesn’t shy away from the enormity of the Flood – a sequence has people screaming and clinging on to a mountain peak as the waters smash them away, their death cries echoing within the expanse of the ark. This isn’t the version of the Flood as seen in cheery Sunday School books. It’s one of the most harrowing things I have ever seen in a PG-13 movie.” (review)

In the latest featurette, meet Tubal-cain, Noah’s nemesis and a descendant of the infamous Cain who slew Abel. Played by Ray Winstone, (Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and HUGO), the English actor says he perceived Tubal-cain as a flawed but savvy man determined to survive at any cost. “I kind of saw Tubal-cain not as the bad guy, but as very human. He has his own very strong point of view.”

Although he is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, Tubal-cain is not included as part of the story of Noah – but Aronofsky and Handel brought him into the screenplay for a very specific reason. “Here’s a guy who is a descendant of Cain, the first murderer, and who himself is defined as forger of weapons in the Bible,” explains Handel. “He seemed like the right person to serve as the leader of the descendants of Cain, representing the wickedness and corruption of man.”

Winstone was a leading choice from the start. “We had to hire someone who you believe could kick Russell Crowe’s butt,” muses Aronofsky. “And he’s a big, tough guy who really sizes up to Russell. They have a great stand-off and confrontation.”

Winstone continues: “I think that he’s tormented because the Creator doesn’t speak to him; he’s like a child that’s been shunned. There’s a lot of envy going on between him Noah and there’s a sadness. I think he’s a man who from a young age has been a warrior fighting for land, fighting for minerals, fighting for meat, and he has come to a point where he is wondering, ‘what have I done with my life?’”

One of the film’s producers, Mary Parent, was impressed with Winstone’s complexity. “Tubal-cain is very much the manifestation of all that has caused God to question where man is headed. There’s an incredible moment in the movie where he even begins to compare himself to God, and takes it to the level of hubris. Yet, at the same time, Ray brings a vulnerability, so you feel for Tubal-cain – and you see that from his perspective, what he’s doing makes sense. While Noah respects all of Creation, Tubal-cain sees everything as for the taking.”

From the inspirational story of courage, sacrifice, hope and redemption, Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan,” “The Wrestler,” “The Fountain”) brings to the screen NOAH. Academy Award winner Russell Crowe portrays the man chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission of rescue before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world. Never before has the full story been brought to life on screen in a vivid epic – inviting the audience to experience these spectacular events through the eyes and emotions of Noah and his family, as they journey through fear and faith, destruction and triumph, hardship and hope.

The production took the film’s world-class cast and crew on their own unexpected journey as they set out to intensively research Noah’s world, honor the text and board an authentic Ark, hand-built to biblically-detailed specifications. In every aspect of the film’s performances, action and innovative special-effects, the creative team’s aim was clear: to forge a contemporary experience of “Noah” that is immediate, vibrant and personal. The result is the first cinematic portrait of Noah as an imperfect man whose awe-inspiring task grapples with the worst of humanity while affirming our faith in its best.

Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth, Dakota Goyo and Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs”) also star.

NOAH opens in cinemas and IMAX on March 28, 2014.

Official Website:  http://www.noahmovie.com/
Official Facebook:  Facebook.com/Noah
Official Twitter:  Twitter.com/NoahMovie

Photos – (c) MMXIV Paramount Pictures Corporation and Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. in the United States. All Rights Reserved