See you at the cinema
By Mark Kenney
Movie reviewed: The Book of Eli
Rating: 3 out of 5
The Hughes Brothers newest film, The Book of Eli, is a post-apocalyptic action drama with a surprise ending that helps to raise it from the ashes of mere mediocrity.
It is decades since the “Big Flash”, a nuclear war that nearly destroyed the planet.
The few remaining survivors attempt to scratch a living out of the desert.
Denzel Washington is Eli, one of the survivors who has traveled for 30 years in the wilderness. Eli is carrying a book, which he is convinced will save humanity.
On his journey west he comes across a shanty town run by the saloon owner, Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Carnegie discovers that Eli has a book and when Eli refuses to hand it over, Carnegie sends out his henchmen to retrieve it.
Eli tries to protect the book from Carnegie as well as save the young Solara (Mila Kunis) who runs away with Eli to escape from Carnegie.
The Book of Eli is directed by the Hughes Brothers who are known for their stylish films such as Dead Presidents and From Hell.
You can see the brothers’ creative directing in the action sequences in The Book of Eli, which are quick and gory.
Washington is his normal intense self in this film and he is quite convincing as the driving prophet who is not above chopping a few heads off in order to protect his book.
The sets and the looks of the bad guys in this film appear to be more like a Western movie that a science fiction film and the story of one good man against a bad town was also reminiscent of old western films.
If it had not been for the surprise ending, this would have been a predictable western.
The Book of Eli is now playing in Lacombe at Reel to Reel Cinemas.
Until next time, I will see you at the Cinema.
