Movie review: Lackluster delivery overcomes The Book of Eli’s message

The film-making family known as The Hughes Brothers has made a career out of grimy, urban stories.  The brothers followed their debut films Menace 2 Society and Dead Presidents with the comic book adaptation From Hell; itself a picture of poverty and class stratification in 19th century London. 

After taking a lengthy break from theatrical features, the brothers have returned to the fantastic genre with the post-apocalyptic The Book of Eli.

The world is in ruins, seemingly destroyed by a nuclear war started by differences in ideologies. Denzel Washington stars as a quiet wanderer carrying and protecting a special book. 

He’s a man content to live off the land and fulfill his mission to walk west across the country.  He’s seeking a special place to deliver the book but he must navigate a lawless land filled with raiders and cannibals.  It’s a good thing he happens to be a martial arts expert.

When the wanderer enters what is best described as a wild western town, he runs afoul of the local authorities.  Carnegie, the town leader (Gary Oldman), just happens to be in search of a special book; one that will give him ultimate power over the local populace. 

Pursued by Carnegie’s army of thugs and bandits, the wanderer must protect the book, stay alive, and deal with a newly found disciple.

If you’ve seen any of the advertising for this film, it’s probably no surprise what the book is so I’m really not ruining anything for you.  Taken as a study of faith in difficult times, The Book of Eli potentially holds a strong appeal to Christians and spiritual audience members. Unfortunately the message is clouded by the film’s lackluster delivery.

By now, audiences are well-versed in the dystopian future seemingly in store for our planet.  Movies like the Mad Max trilogy have seen to that.  So as disturbing as it may seem to see our civilization turned to rubble, audiences are used to it.

What the brothers have done is to combine the post-apocalyptic genre with the western and samurai film.  It’s a natural fit, but we’ve seen it all too many times.  For an older guy, Denzel does a great job with the action.  He’s memorized the fight scenes and plays the holy warrior well.  Unfortunately, the action is too detached. 

While it may be thrilling to see Denzel take out a room full of thugs, the Hughes Brothers stage the action with wide shots and you never really feel any sense of danger.  Eli is as invincible and enigmatic as the Man with No Name or samurai heroes Ogami Itto and Zatoichi.  The action is slick but non-emotional and Eli’s mysterious behavior prevents him from becoming an involving hero.

Is The Book of Eli a bad film?  Certainly not, but it’s not necessarily an exciting movie either.  In addition to its other problems, there are also some jarring tonal shifts, including a rape scene closely followed by a humorous section featuring a jovial elderly couple “surviving off the land.” 

Anyone who has seen a western, a samurai movie, or any number of genre films will immediately recognize the template.  There is a twist at the end but it’s meaningless unless you’re focused on the film’s spiritual message.  The message is uplifting and will be confirming for some, but it’s not the most exciting way to get there.

3 out of 5

Rated R for some brutal violence and language
 

Tony Robinson is a past host of KATU's Movie Guys film review segment and currently reviews movies exclusively for KATU.com. He lives in Portland with his wife, son and action figure collection. He can be reached at tonerobe@hotmail.com.