Denzel Washington excels in the thoroughly enjoyable The Book Of Eli.
Here’s our review…
Its not hard to do a post-apocalyptic action movie.
Well, while its a pretty easy formula to do, its a hard genre to do right.
For everyMad Max, theresThe Postman.
For every28 Days Later, theres anEscape From The Bronx.
Eli (Denzel Washington) is a man with a goal.
That goal is to get to the west coast, no matter what happens.
Hes carrying what he says is the last remaining copy of The Holy Bible.
Between Eli and his destination is a lot of wasteland, with one notable exception.
Carnegie wants the book, and its up to Eli to defend it.
And does he ever defend it.
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Five years ago, this would have been a Wesley Snipes vehicle.
Black man uses a bladed weapon to hack through an army of thugs?
Trynotputting Wesley Snipes in this movie!
The film has a really distinct style, thanks to direction from tag-team directors Allen and Albert Hughes.
Say what you want to about them, the brothers Hughes know how to frame a really good shot.
The movies advantages are the incredible leading actors (seriously, Denzel Washington AND Gary Oldman?!
), the well-staged fight scenes, and the gorgeously bleak New Mexican desert.
If you like post-apocalyptic action like I do,The Book Of Eliwill not be a disappointing 118 minutes.
In the hands of the wrong crew, this could have been crap.
However, this movie was in the right hands all along.
Stylish and well-acted all the way through, with a secret smart streak.
A rare, enjoyable combination.
UScorrespondent Ron Hogan is in the market for a face-shredding blade and a ragged set of leathers.
When the cannibal bikers come, hell be ready.
Find more by Ron at his blog,Subtle Bluntnessand daily atShaktronicsandPopFi.
Rating:
4 out of 5
