Review: The Book of Eli

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The Book of Eli

My favorite subgenre of science fiction is dystopian tales, including Children of Men, Fahrenheit 451, and Mad Max. Therefore I was intrigued by The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic tale of a lone traveler making his way across the wasteland of America. This man carries with him a sacred book that has the power to change the world -- but will that power be used for good or not?

The future painted in The Book of Eli by the Hughes brothers is a sepia-toned brutal one, hot and dusty with little protection from the elements and murderous hijackers and marauders. Eli (Denzel Washington) has been traveling for 30 years, and remembers the time before "The Big Flash" and the war, when people threw away items that are now killed for. He can't remember how old he is but can read, while younger generations are illiterate and desperate. Food and water are scarce, and many survivors have resorted to cannibalism. Eli is well-armed and extremely skilled with his weapons, but his senses are his real survival tools.

During a stop in a small town with the only known water supply for miles, Eli crosses paths with Carnegie (Gary Oldman), leader of the town. Carnegie has been sending his men out to search for one particular book -- one that contains the words that will give him power over the weak and the desperate. Caught in the middle is Solara (Mila Kunis), a young woman full of curiosity about the world before and a desperate desire for a different life.

Strong, solid performances from Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman are the highlight of The Book of Eli, but the uneven pacing and overdone action scenes detract from this often predictable film. Although the denouement contains a great Hail Mary pass that made me re-trace the story, if you blink you just might miss it. There's also a few well-paced movie posters and a cameo appearance that other post-apocalyptic film fans will find amusing. Readers of Walter M. Miller, Jr.'s novel A Canticle for Leibowitz will find similiarities in the subplots, especially the "bookleggers".

The Book of Eli isn't going on my recommended viewing for post-apocalyptic films. However, Denzel Washington's portrayal of a man on a mission moved by faith to the point of being detached from genuine human beings is well worth watching again.