The Book of Eli has come under fire from critics and viewers, especially since it treads on the highly polarised ground of religion. Viewers on the IMDB boards debate about the suitability of the King James Version of the Bible as Eli’s Holy Book. Many point out inconsistencies in the script. For instance, Eli’s quote is from the New King James Bible, not the King James Version and it is implausible that people crave water yet live amidst luxuries like leather and car fuel.
Yet something compelling about this movie drives these arguments. The Book of Eli is no doubt memorable. It shows that a technologically-broken world can still power a man’s pilgrimage. Even an iPod can be a religious tool.
Story of The Book of Eli
The Book of Eli has a simple plot. It is set after an unspoken war tore a hole in the sky and the sun burnt everything. Those who survive, rob, rape and kill each other. Lone traveller Eli (Denzel Washington) heads West to find the right resting place for his Holy Book. Along the way, he encounters Hijackers, a town run by power-obsessed Carnegie (Gary Oldman), cannibals and hidden springs of water.
Viewers must be warned of the violent content, especially the early scene with Hijackers. For a spiritual man, Eli is unnecessarily brutal, but that alerts the viewer to the high levels of treachery in the world of this film. Impressively, Denzel Washington performs all hand-to-hand fight sequences himself.
Don Burgess’ Cinematography in The Book of Eli
Cinematographer Don Burgess has worked with Arctic, altitude-challenging movie sets like Eight Below and Spider Man. In The Book of Eli, Burgess creates a dystopian world with metals and greys, which is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe’s The House of Usher. Both works rely on decay and disturbing silences as centerpiece. Likewise, The Book of Eli excludes opening credits and expository name-dropping. We do not know Denzel Washington is Eli or much about the war until the middle of the film.
An example of Burgess’ striking cinematography is the glorious sun rising outside Eli’s window while he prays. The set designers have created dusty deserts with sexual and animalistic undertones. These are further highlighted by Sharen Davis’ stunning costume choices. Leather, hide and sunshades toughen the cast and recreate gangsters as New Money.
Denzel Washington & Gary Oldman
Denzel Washington’s role smacks of Ben Marco in The Manchurian Candidate. Washington is like a wine that gets better with age: his roles deliver depth over appearance. Gary Oldman and Tom Waits reunite since Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, empowering The Book of Eli with Gothic energy, though one still hopes Gary Oldman will avoid being typecast in his next role . Mila Kunis plays Solara – Eli’s attractive companion. Kunis is an Angelina Jolie-lookalike who luckily does not have to play the predictable love interest.
Michael Gambon, Frances de la Tour & Supporting Cast
One of the eeriest scenes takes place in the House of George and Martha, played by British actors Michael Gambon and Frances de la Tour. George and Martha crank up Ring My Bell after inviting Eli and Solara (Mila Kunis) in for tea, but something seems amiss. Other strong supporting actors include Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals and Lora Cunningham.
The Book of Eli Verdict
Viewers are set up for a twist but the end is still unpredictable. The Book of Eli is best enjoyed as an allegory of the post-apocalyptic world, where ravaged technology allows spiritual hope to shine through.
Sources
- The Book of Eli: bad news Bible. Paul MacInnes, Guardian Newspaper, 2 June, 2010.
- The Book of Eli (2010), IMDB Comments.
- The Book of Eli
- Director: Albert Hughes & Allen Hughes
- Writers: Gary Whitta
- Actors: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Frances de la Tour, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits, Lora Cunningham.
- Running time: 118 minutes
Lynette S.K. Webster - Copywriter turned Freelance Writer Copywriter for 4 years in Singapore, writing radio, print, TV and recruitment ads for national radio ...
Join the Conversation