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| Mila Kunis and Denzil Washington as Eli and Solara in The Book of Eli |
The Book of Eli is already the second post-apocalyptic film to be released this year, after an excellent start with The Road - a superior movie. It goes to show that American screenplay writers must be the glass is half empty kind of people.
Eli (Washington) is on a journey West across the USA in possession of the bestselling book, The Bible. It’s his job to protect it from the bandits and general scum that have the freedom to rape and pillage now that it is 30 years on from ‘the big flash’, an event that killed any living thing that wasn’t lucky enough to be satisfactorily shaded at the time. Washington carries the film in his very capable acting hands, although Gary Oldman gives him a run for his money as Carnegie, a very convincing villain who doesn’t fall into the trap of being the cliché the character could have been. Mila Kunis (Solara) is a feisty young lady who tags along with Eli, she is slightly annoying in a way that is hard to put your finger on, but is at least aesthetically pleasing.
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| Gary Oldman as Carnegie in The Book of Eli |
As the heathen atheist I am, the film’s religious theme could have been a problem. There were times when I was uncomfortable with what conclusion might be eventually made, but in the end, it leaves room on either side of the fence to take the side you want and the eventual fate of the book did leave me contented. Carnegie’s plans to use it the book as a weapon to ‘control the weak and stupid’ and gain power - as has happened throughout history and, unfortunately, continues to – was clever. Although, Eli’s faith is a representation of one of religions most ridiculous arguments for any gaps in knowledge that science has yet to fill.
Philosophy and theology aside, The Book of Eli is a well made film. Twin directors, The Hughes Brothers - with their first outing since From Hell - give it a nice look by over-exposing all the outdoor scenes as a consequence of ‘the big flash’. Plus, there are a couple of very cool fight scenes and, somewhat surprisingly, it’s humorous. There are moments of genius and originality but adversely, there are others of clichéd unoriginality – a mixed bag with, thankfully, more of the former. Overall The Book of Eli is, perhaps rather stealthily, agnostic and despite its flaws, it is quite good fun.
