Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page B8

Director Darren Aronofsky has een his share of controversy in a ody of work that has included ncompromising such as equiem for a Dream and Black wan ut there been anything uite like the storm that has rupted over his treatment of the ld Testament tale featured in oah out Friday. The maelstrom as battle-tested studio heads eaching for appropriate biblical omparisons. been a unique ays Rob Moore, vice chairman of istributor Paramount Studios. a ctually feel like some combina- ion of Noah preparing for the torm, or Joseph, where you feel like in some foreign land a nd trying to out ow to make it all The story of construct ion of a massive ark to save animals from borne wrath is sacred text in the uran and the Bible and is one of he most popular stories with children. et no has fully take on the tale for Hollywood until quest, which actually tarted when, as a 13-year-old tudent, he won an award for his poem about the tale.

It continued inspire him as an adult. It seems strange to me that one of the greatest stories ever old had never been made into a eature says Aronofsky, 45. some ways I have been work- i ng on this for 32 years. When I rst pitched the I think there would be much con- was wrong on that last oint. Noah which stars Russell rowe in the title role, along with ennifer Connelly (as Naameh) a nd Anthony Hopkins (Methuse- ah), has become a lightning rod.

A ronofsky and screenwriter part- er Ari leaked script was rst called out by a blogger in Oct ober 2012 for depicting Noah as a A ronofsky insists the comm ents refer to an old draft of the cript. But criticism of de- iction and the environmental hemes has continued. epresentatives of Muslim- ominated Qatar, Bahrain, Unite Arab Emirates and Indonesia ave made clear that their coun- ries will not distribute the Conservative radio talk show host lenn Beck, who initially critic ized the based on a review that he read, saw Noah over the eekend. It was Beck said on his radio show Monday, calling it and a Paramount has worked with eligious organizations such as he American Bible Society. After eeing the chief communica- ions cer Geo rey Morin rged debate about the topic igging into word for yours in a positive op-ed piece in SA TODAY.

A fter discussions with mem- ers of the National Religious roadcasters, Paramount and the RB made a joint announcement i February to change Noah arketing materials to stress that i was an interpretation of the iblical story. is ins pired by the story of the arketing wording now reads. The Biblical story of Noah can found in the book of RB President Jerry Johnson osed the all-important question i a series of articles on the website: Should hristians organize churches to ee Noah or boycott it? While taking issue with some vision, Johnson rote many would the Most importantly, you can ave healthy Gospel discussions about some of the positives, and ven the Johnson rote. He also made clear it was not a up a block of oment for churches. ow will the controversy play out at the box ce? Movie in- ustry publication Variety report- robust tracking at more than $35 million for this weekend.

urther, Noah opened strong last riday in South Korea and in heavily Catholic Mexico ($1.4 mill ion, matching Gravity opening i the market). ormer ambassador to the Vati can Raymond Flynn and Samuel odriguez, president of the Nat ional Hispanic Christian Leaders hip Conference, also have seen he and praised the educa- ional possibilities it presents. odriguez says Noah ositive even if it deviates rom the Scripture. There were elements that ade me feel uncomfortable. I deny he says.

I will have no hesitation recom- ending it to my churches. This i not Noah 101 from the book Genesis. But a pro-faith ovie, a pro-God movie, a pro- amily movie. Without a PHOTOS BY NIKO TAVERNISE, PARAMOUNT PICTURES, VIA AP Russell Crowe stares down the coming catastrophe in Noah epic tale hits theaters Friday. Jennifer Connelly plays Naameh, wife to title character.

Treatment of the revered Old Testament tale as dropped into a storm all its own Bryan Alexander USA TODAY seems strange me that one the greatest tories ever told ad never been ade into a eature Director Darren Aronofsky hits rough eligious waters MOVIES 8B USA TODAY FOR ARGUSLEADER time to say Psych ans: The popular cult series is eading to that giant pineapple in he sky after eight irreverent easons. ut rewind to 2006, when he show was shooting its pilot pisode, and creator Steve Franks emembers hile many others were nervous a bout whether the series would et picked up, kept going a round saying, is absolutely etting on the air, and doing ve years of sych has since exceeded his bold, ridiculous nding its eight-year run tonight USA, 9 after 121 epi- odes. Immediately after the ale, USA will air a live Psych A fter Pshow (10:07 an our-long discussion with ranks, the cast and a studio a udience in Los Angeles. ollowing fake psychic detect ive Shawn Spencer (James Rod ay) and his best friend, Burton Guster Hill), Psych as paid homage to everything rom Twin Peaks to Alfred Hitcho ck and welcomed guest stars uch as Jane Lynch, Kerry Wash- i ngton and George Takei. Its loyal and of marks oungest audience for an original cripted series and its most active social media, with more than 2 Facebook fans and 2 06,000 Twitter followers.

A ratings dip since its heyday early 1.7million viewers this eason, compared with more than 4 million viewers in early seasons is a likely factor in its demise, but network president Chris cCumber says the olice comedy is ending on a high note. It put us on the map as far as ur programming and McCumber says. Not only did sych turn fans on to other USA hows, it also established a tone of comedy for the network. like to call it a with a ead body every The conclusion has been bit- ersweet for cast and crew, but oday says, very easy to focus on the positives because of he fact that it was such a won- erful And although last horror-themed epi- ode, Nightmare on State ered no clues about the titled he promises clo- ure above all else. did everything a is upposed to do without the spirit Psych Roday ays.

was sort of he perfect balance an ending and a elebration of what eople tuned in to atch every hich he describes a grown-ass en who refused grow ranks, who rote and directed he episode, says it was daunting trying to make a that appeased both fans and those who worked on the series. But he also hoped to a satisfying conclusion that honors the questions we posed in the pilot and is still true to what the how is in its eighth ather than things up so uch that you close the door to a uture somewhere down the (an idea he has been teasing ince Season 2), he prefers to be- ieve that Shawn and advent ures will continue -screen, ven after the credits roll. sych wrapped shooting late ast summer, making Wednes- after-show the time the ast has reunited in six months. A side from games and a small a wards show (the Golden Pineap- les, naturally, a nod to one of the running gags), fans can exp ect video appearances from pre- ious guest stars, an auction of he signature car, known a and a big sur- rise from Franks and the cast. I the perfect victory lap for a eries that, in many ways, man- a ged a rare feat: establishing itself a a lightly comic cable drama hat appealed to teens and their arents alike.

not a lot of shows out there where a teenager is cool sit- ing in front of the TV with his arents for an hour, admitting that enjoying the same Roday says. some- ow managed to pull that and because of the fact that we ere having so much fun, and it ranslated. was like being in a giant lay one that was equal arts and surprising. what TELEVISION ALAN ZENUK, USA NETWORK Ian (Billy Zane, left), Gus Hill) and Shawn (James Roday) ace in the episode, No one could have ver seen such uccess for After eight seasons, he quirky, comical eries is wrapping up Patrick Ryan USA TODAY PSYCH SA, TONIGHT, 9 not a lot shows out here where a eenager is cool itting in front the TVwith is parents. somehow anaged to ull that Star James Roday JEFF WEDDELL, SA NETWORK For stars Hill and oday, the show as being in a giant play.