The Book of Eli
Movie Poster
I went into this film with prejudices, which is no surprise. I often have mixed feelings about films that star Denzel Washington. The films of his that I like, often feature him dying. It becomes a bittersweet affair with me. I don’t want to like his characters, because they die. Needless to say its not like he doesn’t do compelling films. Fallen, Man on Fire, and Malcolm X are my fave Denzel films, and he dies in all three. The Book of Eli is no exception to my Denzel film favorites.
The Book of Eli is set in a post-apocalyptic world where civilization’s come to a screeching halt. The sun blazes scorching hot, and people have to wear layers of clothes and shade when outside. Some have turned to cannibalism, and in some subtle ways we see how bad that gets. All meat if fair game, and poor kittens’ can get eaten if they don’t watch out.
In The Book of Eli, Denzel plays Eli, a man on a pilgrimage to bring the holy bible to the West. His faith is strong, and relies keenly on his other senses. Eli hears a voice communicate with him. Only hears. One needs to see the films a second time to understand what Eli’s really capable of, as his senses make him unique. He hears and smells people near him (trying poorly to ambush him), and hunts with accuracy.
Senses play such a dynamic part in this film. We know that Eli is a skilled hunter and fighter who can kill with such accuracy and graphic details, its not only scary, but in some ways spiritual. He’s committed himself to the art of survival that he can fight multiple people with knives, guns, and a bow and arrows. Many underestimate Eli and take him for a victim to their peril. The man is no victim.
Gary Oldman plays Carnegie, a man who runs a town through fear and intimidation. He covets the bible, as he knows that it is a tool that will unify people. His desire is pure selfish. This bible is a mere tool to help him control the masses. Upon discovering Eli has a bible, he makes it his mission to retrieve it at all costs (including loosing his armed thugs/control). Carnegie risks and loses all for his lack of faith. His defeat is both physical and spiritual.
Carnegie is the perfect foil to Eli, and yet both have some similar attitudes. Carnegie is single-minded, driven by a need for control. Eli is also goal-oriented, refusing to stray from his path (which he wishes to walk alone). The difference is that Carnegie is a selfish bastard and it doesn’t matter who dies. There’s no remorse whatsoever in his actions. By contrast, Eli attempts to atone for his acts through his prayers.
Eli and Solara at the house of the Cannibal Elderly
Mila Kunis plays Solara, a woman at the mercy of Carnegie until she leaves him to follow Eli. (who doesn’t want her tagging along). It’s a different role I’ve seen for her, as she usually does comedy, but I liked her. She’s got a certain sweetness and likeability to her character. Her newfound strength at the end of the film actually informs me that she’s capable of surviving on her own as she begins her pilgrimage.
Eli’s protection of his bible is clear, but when he looses it, he still retains the knowledge of what he carried.
Sound is so important in this film. In the beginning we hear only sounds of nature in a harsh forest. There’s an old iPod that Eli uses to listen to an Al Green song.
Eli in Carnegie's town
One drawback is that I would have loved to see how the world became the scorched world, but at the same time it doesn’t matter. We’re given a lot, and sometimes the how is only important for context. We do know there was a war, and a “hole opened in the sky.” Man has lost his way, and destroyed all of the bibles they could find.
There are a couple of twists in the story, that will make you do a double take, but I find its best that one sees the film, and me not tell you.
