Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA) for some mild language. Made for TV.

Reviewed by: Vickie Maduzia
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Better than Average
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Drama
Length: 1 hr. 36 min.
Year of Release: 1999
USA Release: May 9, 1999
Copyright, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Copyright, Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures
Relevant Issues

Old age

What does the Bible say about HUMILITY?

Property development

Featuring Sidney Poitier
Dianne Wiest
Mary-Louise Parker
George Newbern
Director Gregg Champion
Producer Trimark Pictures
Mark Amin
Gregg Champion
Derek Kavanagh
Peter A. Marshall
Distributor Distributor: CBS. Trademark logo.Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

“The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn” is absolutely wonderful! A great family movie with an inspiring message… although we are “in” the world, we need not be “of” the world.

A greedy land developer sets his sights on an ageless carpenter who has remained untouched by 20th-century corruption. Sidney Poitier gives an outstanding performance as a humble, hardworking elderly man of few words, who lives a simple but lonely life as a farmer and carpenter. A land developer/attorney pulls out all the stops to try to buy him out of his family farm… Noah Dearborn (Poitier) rejects the offers, but does so in a dignified and respectable fashion, never yielding or stooping to their level, a great role model for viewers of all ages. His humble and softspoken character holds the respect of his small town community, and his lifestyle is a wonder and inspiration to several egocentric “city folk” who meet him during the movie.

There are no direct references to God, but the movie was so refreshing and inspiring, we intend to purchase it for our home collection. There is one short scene that involves the land developer-guy sharing a hotel room with his girlfriend, but there are no naked bodies, no suggestive scenes, just the two of them playing a card game (double solitaire perhaps?). Otherwise, this movie is squeaky-clean and inspiring… a real keeper!


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive—I saw this movie… while travelling on a plane and was enthralled, as were most of the other passengers that I observed watching. Words that come to mind in trying to describe it are delightful, inspiring and possibly “life-changing.” I highly recommend this for all audiences.
My Ratings: [Excellent / 5]
Steve Dennis, age 43
Negative—This movie was very good… up until the point where it takes the name of the Lord in vain—the lady who plays the girlfriend of the contractor. After that I stopped watching it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: no opinion
Jesus, age 38 (USA)