The Book of Eli - 2 1/2 smiles

For whatever reason, there’s been a spate of apocalyptic movies recently: “Knowing,” “2012,” “The Road” and “The Book of Eli.” A key difference in these end-of-the-world tales is “The Book of Eli” advocates the importance of faith as the path through the darkness. The movie’s strength is the visuals, a bleak, ash-strewn landscape devoid of life, very reminiscent of “The Road,” but instead of constant gray skies and rain, Eli’s world endures a relentlessly blazing sun where water and lip balm are valuable commodities. Directors Albert and Allen Hughes don’t always seem in control of their narrative with their shifting tones. At one point, Eli is effectively fighting off a gang of thugs and later, he and his companion, Solara (Mila Kunis) seek refuge with an older couple, where their situation almost takes the form of a comedy skit. And when the Hughes brothers throw in the final plot twist, you have to say, ‘Give me a break!’ Denzel Washington gives a strong performance as a man whose abilities border on the superhuman and Gary Oldman is always effective as the bad guy.

It’s 30 years after the apocalypse and a whole generation has grown up without books, reading or the advantages they entail. After all, knowledge is power, a concept that Eli (Washington) and his antagonist Carnegie (Oldman) know because they were educated before the war. Carnegie runs a small town, controlling its inhabitants because he controls the water. Every day Carnegie sends out his minions, charging them to bring back any books they find. Of course, the one book Carnegie wants is the book Eli protects. “The Book of Eli” is foremost an action film that touches on some interesting ideas. Just don’t expect a meaningful analysis of the Bible’s place in a post-apocalyptic world. 1/15/09