John’s Movie Musings

It must be difficult to make a good post-apocalyptic movie.  Everyone thinks of Mad Max and since it’s now a classic, Hollywood assumes that’s the only way to make one.  That’s a bunch of crap.  What Hollywood should be copying is Westerns.  They are already set in a wasteland (of sorts).  Just add a bit of sci-fi (not too much) and you’re done.  In fact, if some director starts re-envisioning the old Clint Eastwood movies into post-apocalyptic stories, we’d have decades of great flicks.

The Book of Eli is sort of like a Man With No Name tale…except that his name is in the title for no reason.  The story would have been stronger had he not had a name, but whatever.  Anyway, the “Book” refers to The Bible.  Eli Washington is on a quest to bring the last existing Bible to a place God told him, but has to go through a town run by Gary Oldman.  Oldman just so happens to want a Bible so that he can use the power of religion to control the masses.  If you enjoy classic Gary Oldman villians, then you’re in for a treat.  He plays the part to perfection.

Obviously there are a few religious themes going on, but they are all handled well.  Denzel plays the quiet apostle on a mission from God, while Oldman embodies the famous quote by C.S. Lewis: “Of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst.”  Everything is left vague enough to draw your own conclusions about a theme, but good movies get you talking and thinking about things like that.

One last point I need to make is about the cinematography.  It’s gorgeous.  That’s probably an odd thing to say about a movie set amidst total destruction, but just like the desert, there can be beauty in the wasteland.  That’s why folks go to places God never intended.  Like Arizona.

The Book of Eli has been out for a few weeks and isn’t getting treated very well by the critics.  I can only guess it’s because they wanted another Mad Max clone.  I wanted a “Western in the Wasteland” and that’s exactly what I got.  Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Grade: B