NYSOM: Deity Another Day...

Critics and those of us within the industry have been aware for some time that Darren Aronofsky / Russell Crowe’s Noah is about to change from a trickle of publicity to a flood. No, seriously, if you think those watery comparisons are fishy, await the coming deluge of soggy metaphors. 

Now, I haven’t seen the finished print of Noah but I can tell you that amongst all the water and story-Ark-ing, that the origin of the divine mission that Crowe and company find themselves fulfilling is left somewhat ambiguous. Anyone expecting to see a bearded man on a cloud – or, hey, even go–to-God, Morgan Freeman – is going to be somewhat disappointed in the lack of overt and definitive burning bushes  - here we get questionable 'visions' and talk of a 'Creator' rather than God.  For a film that could arguably be described as the grand-daddy of disaster movies, this is as close to ‘subtle’ as Hollywood is likely to get.

You’d think the Bible would be seen on screen more often. Whether you think it’s the source of all spiritual wisdom or not, it IS absolutely a great source material for drama of… well, biblical proportions. Even putting aside Noah (hitting US and UK screens next week), you still have plagues, wars, resurrection, betrayal, murder. Don’t even get me started on the smiting. Shakespeare… peh...amateur. 

Of course, any depiction of events in a holy book is an instant theological minefield, putting the ‘denomination’ into award nominations. Some religions see the visual representation of their god(s), religious history and holy people as an excuse for the kind of outrage that leads to physical violence. But even in a more permissive society, such coverage is an excuse for the kind of outrage that leads to physical ratings-wars and sharp commentary from the bully-pulpit.  For instance, America’s infamous right-wing pundit Glen Beck  has not seen Noah and has no intention of doing so but has already rung the karmic klaxon and deemed it to be ‘dangerous’, ‘hostile to God’ and a ‘slap in the face’ to Christians.  

"This movie, if it becomes successful – if we take our churches and we all go and everything else – our children will look at that as being the Noah story, and no matter what you say, they will believe this version over the version that mommy and daddy are telling them or that old, dusty Bible is telling them, because this one will come alive in their imaginations. It is dangerous disinformation," Beck sermonised.

Really?  Several priests, vicars and even those with ties to the Vatican would - and have - disagreed.

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