Review: The Book of Eli

It’s nice to know that if the Apocalypse happens first-generation iPods, copies of O Magazine, and KFC handy wipes will still be around 30 years after. Ridiculous annoyances like those takes The Book of Eli from being a cool Mad Max wannabe and puts it into the category of farce.

Something happened a long time ago that scorched Earth and turned it into a desolate wasteland. We don’t actually learn what it was but it was bright and now all the good guys wear cool sunglasses and the bad guys wear tinted goggles. Eli (Denzel Washington) wears the coolest shades of all so we know he’s the hero. He’s a vigilante loner heading West across what’s left of America and he’s carrying a very important book. When he enters a functioning town (and kills a bunch of people who mess with him) he’s approached by the town’s ruler Carnegie (Gary Oldman). Carnegie has been looking for the book that Eli is carrying and needs it in order to grow and civilize the town and its people. By the time Eli gets out of there a lot more people are dead and a young woman by the name of Solara (Mila Kunis) has become his sidekick.

It’s becoming more painful to watch Washington phone in these cardboard cutout roles. Why waste money on him when Steven Seagal could have done it just the same (for much cheaper I assume) and added more schlock to a film that wants to be schlocky? Kunis is not an action star or a damsel in distress and she just doesn’t fit in this movie at all. Oldman, who is always good, works with what he’s given but still doesn’t save the film from stinking. The one actor who really stood out was Ray Stevenson who plays Carnegie’s right-hand man Redridge. He had a sincerity about him and does tough and funny well.

Directed by brothers Albert and Allen Hughes, who last did From Hell together in 2001, The Book of Eli is shot very stylishly and does have some decent fight scenes. But it’s never quite enough and flatlines more often than not. For instance, in a scene where Eli is butchering a group of roadside hijackers the Bros. have him walk into a tunnel and finish them off in a darkened silhouette instead of showing the carnage. While this could be a decent effect it comes across as a cheap-out method that is very disappointing to the audience. They also don’t seem to know which genre they are working in and at times it feels like they want it to be a thriller, western, sci-fi, and comedy all rolled into one.

If you’re looking for a good post-Apocalyptic film skip this and go see The Road. If you want a solid action film that isn’t afraid to show some blood and guts go see Ninja Assassin. If you want a mediocre film experience with a bit of both, check out The Book of Eli (just don’t expect much).

** out of 5 stars

Rated R
Cast: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman
Directed by: Albert and Allen Hughes
Official Site IMDb

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

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Top image: Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli. Courtesy Warner Bros.