Rated R for some brutal violence and language.
118 Mins.
Denzel Washington – January Review Star
Directed By: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Written By: Gary Whitta
Staring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits
Review:
Thirty years after the world as we know it has come to an end and a lone man is walking across America on a journey to protect a sacred book that has the possibility to save humankind. The Hughes brothers have imagined a unique dust covered world where possessions such as batteries, wetnaps, comfortable shoes and clean water are the bargaining chips to save the lives of the remaining survivors.
The Book of Eli reminds me of part Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and part Tombstone. There is an underlying western feel to the film because of the lawlessness that rules the desert. Horses are traded in for Harley’s and the drink of choice is water. Many people have become scavengers and have no problem killing you and then eating you as their meal.
Eli is in possession of a bible, supposedly the only remaining bible. Gary Oldman plays Carnegie who runs one of the few towns because of his control of the water. He is looking for the bible because he knows that with the bible comes power and he wants as much power as he can possibly have. This is the epitome of the struggle between good and evil. Carnegie uses his henchmen to help rule the town and find the bible. Jennifer Beals plays Claudia a blind woman that is Carnegie’s mistress and slave. She and her daughter Solara, played by Mila Kunis, are controlled by Carnegie. Ray Stevenson plays Carnegie’s main enforcer Redridge, who helps him run the town. Carnegie finds out that Eli is in possession of a book that he suspects to be the one he is searching for and the standoff begins!
Denzel can still KICK ASS as is evident in this film. I hear that he did his own stunts on this film which just goes to show that he is not only a great actor but a tough one. I could totally buy him in this role and think you will be able to as well. I did not fully enjoy the film for a number of reasons. Lets completely throw out all implausible scenarios from my reasons such as where they are getting bullets and gas from and focus on the other factors that detract from this film.
The main issue I have with The Book of Eli is that the pacing and flow of the film is not smooth. I feel there are many many dead spots throughout. I was at times bored during the film. The action scenes were okay but nothing spectacular. I had seen most of the best parts during the trailers I had watched. I like Gary Oldman as an actor but have to say that my favorite role of his is in The Professional. As Carnegie he was truly able to show how maniacal he can be which is pretty cool. I thought Mila Kunis looked like a fish out of water in this film, primarily with the action sequences. There is one part at the end that especially had me chuckling and I think you will agree. I will not give away any spoilers for this film but I will say that there is a doozy at the end. If you have seen it, without giving it away, did you see that coming?
The Bottom Line:
I felt the film was too preachy, but I went in suspecting that it would be. I did not like the long breaks between action sequences. They did not serve a purpose to build the story and therefore were a waste in my mind. The one thing that saves this film is the acting of Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. I think that if I could go back this is a film I would definitely see on DVD instead of in the theaters.
Thanks Jim.
I’ve been on the fence about a theatre viewing or waiting for rental, but I think this is probably a good one for rentals now. Things have been crazy these past months and February has more intriguing movies I anticipate seeing.
“did you see that coming?” in a word no! I really loved the end, it somehow lifted the movie and made it even better.
Heather, two arguments for seeing at the cinema. One – it looks really good, it will lose some of that on a smaller screen. Two – If the twist hasn’t already been given away to you the longer you leave it the more likely someone will let slip. You really need to go into a first viewing without knowing the twist.
Ugh, that ending with Kunis was terrible. I liked everything else before it though. I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than you did since I was never bored at any point. That pic of Kunis and Washington in the house with the old couple was probably one of my favorite parts of the movie!