Released on DVD June 15, 2010
The Hughes brothers are quite different than the other tag team directing duo from Minnesota, however they sit in the same elite cinematic ballpark. The Book of Eli is another classic that joins Menace to Society, Dead Presidents, American Pimp and From Hell as solid films. While only Menace is so famous and different that it can be referred to with only one word, The Book of Eli is a movie viewers dream. Silence fills nearly the first ten minutes of the movie as Eli, played by Denzel Washington (Mo' Better Blues, Malcom X, Training Day) fills the screen surrounded by a post apocalyptic world. The earth is barren and not recognizable. The planet, painted by cinematographer Don Burgess (Mo' Money, Forrest Gump, Castaway), is truly breathtaking. A perfectly ambiguous plot emerges before Eli has to kick any ass. Al Green's “How can you mend broken heart” accompanies a gritty weapon montage which alludes to the first blood to be shed.
The faces of the characters are worn and terrifying from scars and dehydration. The villain Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman (The Professional aka Leon, True Romance, The Fifth Element) reminds the audience why he is still the one of the premier “bad guys” in Hollywood. Mila Kunis (That Seventies Show) gets her big break and depicts a non-ditz pretty well. Tom Waits graces us as a bartender as well as Jenifer Beals (Flashdance). The action mixed with the soundly written screenplay by Gary Whitta make The Book of Eli a must see. While post-apocalyptic movies are somewhat cliche, there is a reason that they always get interest. We love to imagine, and sometimes we think of the worst. There is no clear definition given of what happened to the world during The Book of Eli, in fact there is a great deal that viewers are not told. However, we see the after effects. The physical devastation accompanied by cannibalism and pure mayhem is fun to experience.
The Hughes brothers are back. Albert Hughes is supposed to be making a live action Akira with Leo DiCaprio, while Allen Hughes (New York I Love You) is rumored to be making a series called Gentleman of Leisure for HBO. Despite their future these brothers from Detroit don't direct as frequently as the Coen Brothers, but the movie industry needs more original and innovative films and less comic book, regurgitated television shows and video game movies.
3.25 out of 4
(Review by Thomas Demerath)
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