In one of the first scenes in The Book of Eli, Eli (Denzel) sits back in an abandoned house, throws on his iPod headphones, and presses play. The song: "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart" by Al Green and not the Bee Gees (fyi one of my top 5 songs of all time). It's an important choice, going with the soul over the disco. Green isn't just "The Reverend". He's a reverend. His soundtracked falsetto makes holy what goes on on-screen: Eli washing up with a couple of old KFC wetnaps, staring into his makeshift campfire. In his post-apocalyptic, churchless America, Eli is as close as it comes to a holy man. He's also got a burned like candle-wax back, just like Al.
He's on a mission from God, but that mission involves some good, old-fashioned martial arts killing. See, a voice in his head is directing him to take his bible, the last in existence, to California. That's a bit of a haul, especialy since the road is filled with cannibals, hijackers, and rapists. They can't fuck with him really as Eli is a champ with his machete and semi-auto. He's a black Neo. He's Ne-yo. As much as he wants to protect his book, Carnegie (Gary Oldman) wants to take it and use the sermons to control the weak and weary. He rules a town, but with Jebus on his side, well at least his words, Carnegie can rule a lot more. So, it's Eli versus Carnegie and his much weaponed band of soldiers for the world's souls.
Denzel and Oldman as two dueling orators? We could have done a lot worse. This is familiar territory for Denzel. He rules the courtroom in Philadelphia and The Pelican Brief with that booming, Poitier-redux baritone. A kung fu Jesse Jackson is the logical next step. And if you're going to play off his righteous looks, get the actor who not only can steal scenes, but also really resembles a rat. It's that thin-lipped smiles and slightly cock-eyed grill. The times he's had to play a good guy, they hid all that with a bushy mustacho (Jim Gordon, anyone?).
With Denzel at one end and Oldman at the other, you just have to open their IMDB pages in adjacent windows to know who to cheer for and who to boo. As it turns out, Eli's got God whispering in his ear while Carnegie has only got his own pride and avarice. Eli wants to protect his Bible so it can be reproduced and people can read it and decide for themselves what to think. Carnegie wants to pervert the teachings and rule. This religion isn't Kierkegaard-complex. Of course, in some senses, keeping it simple preserves the integrity of the action. You can't have Eli chopping off hands in a real meditation on modern faith.
The troubles arise because the Bros. Hughes decide to keep the movie so serious, so glum. Their post-apocalyptic America is one of rape and pillaging. Not unrealistic. What's unrealistic is the the so-clear, underlying stuggle in this world: good Christianity versus dictatorial Christianity. Really? That's what's going to save the world? Jesus-proper? The glumness in The Road Warrior is so much more interesting because there is no clear stance on morality. There, it's just survival with some hero who rescues, just cuz. The glumness in Eli combined with the elementary school morality rubbed me the wrong way, a bit.
Still, the Hughes Brothers have made a beautifully barren film that's pretty enjoyable, though Mila Kunis is sort of off-putting (not aesthetically as she's hot as F, but can she ever not be awkward in a film? Grace is never going to be one of her virtues. She just moves around a set so gangily). The directors, I think, have stumbled on a way to make good use of the startling fact that Denzel is now old. I know, hard to believe since his face doesn't seem to crack. He has a bulk that he didn't before, more bulk than what's on the frames of say Willis or Travolta. This Denzel can take motherfuckers out. I believe it. Perhaps this is the beginning of action hero Denzel? I'd take him over the guy in He Got Game or Training Day.
Aside from the storyline, the cinematography is awesome...well worth the watch!