Book of Eli – Review

Nearly ten years ago, then praised Allen and Albert Hughes nearly burned their promising directorial careers to the ground with their inadequate Jack the Ripper tale, From Hell. Luckily, The Hughes Brothers both rised like phoenixes from the ashes with their latest Post Apocalyptic drama starring the heavy weight of A-listers, Denzel Washington.

In the not so distant future, the world is hit with a nuclear attack that has turned the world into a desolate wasteland with only hygienically deficient rapist, murderers and cannibals walking around as regular pedestrians. A drifter named Eli with a love for Al Green and KFC wet wipes (played by Denzel Washington) enters a town that is run by the town’s tormentor, Carnegie. (Played by Gary Oldman) After hearing about a very special book in his possession, Eli becomes the deadly target of Carnegie’s henchmen as they want to possess the book that can save humankind.  Bloodletting, bible thumping and random cameos ensue.

The Book of Eli is a movie that possesses so much liveliness that one could easily erase the recent memory of John Hillcoat’s superior post apocalyptic film, The Road out of their heads for a short while.

With its beautifully stylized set designs, seamless CGI and meticulously planned out swordplay, The Book of Eli proves to be this year’s first decent offering as of yet.  It helps that Denzel Washington pulls off the recent “I’m not too old to be an action star” trend effortlessly with his physically demanding role of Eli who has the moves of Toshiro Mifune and the balls of Snake Plissken.  Like a very popular religious figure often suggested in the film, Washington holds the weight of the film on his shoulders. Even the always stellar Gary Oldman couldn’t upstage him as the brilliantly played enraged villain.  (Although, Tom Waits almost stole a couple of amusing scenes with Washington in his small role as a shop owner.)

Now as fun as The Book of Eli was, it wasn’t without its flaws.  Unlike The Road, which suggests only a person’s inner strength can keep their hope alive; Book of Eli suggests that only the power of God can keep hope alive.  Gary Whitta’s script can come off preachy at times and non religious viewers may find it a bit infuriating to watch a film that says only Christianity can save us.  I find this quite funny considering the film shows the “Jesus-substitute,” Eli avoiding to help a woman from being raped and killed so he can get his iPod charged early on.  (What kind of message is that supposed to send?)

Also, after the film’s visually mesmerizing first hour, The Book of Eli instantly disintegrates its initial charm and luster with its rushed ending and absurd twist that only accomplishes pointing out an actor’s onscreen bad habit rather than actually making sense.  Furthermore, whose decision was it to cast Mila Kunis as Eli’s annoying sidekick?  Really?  Just like most had suspected would happen, Kunis is way out of her league in this one and lacks any true chemistry with Washington whatsoever which is most likely due to intimidation.  Once seeing the “Sixth Sense”-like twist at the end, I even find it that much harder to believe that Eli would let her tag along on his journey in the first place.

The Book of Eli may not be as dark as The Road, and despite its overly religious overtones, it’s still a solid action film to be recognized as it has some of the goriest and disturbing fight sequences since Kill Bill. The Hughes Brothers prove that after a nine year hiatus, they are still “menaces to film society.”

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