Movie Review: The Book of Eli

When you see the movie trailers for the Book of Eli, you get a feeling of Mad Max. A post-apocalypic world filled with violence and action. You get a sense of the lone gunsliner (ala Clint Eastwood's famous gunfighter without a name, or even the Samurai his character is based upon) wandering the land spreading a unique mix of justice, vengance, honor, and moral apathy. This is what the trailer brings to mind.

The movie itself is another thing though. It is slow in pace, like Once Upon A Time In America. It's bleak, like so many after the end of the world movies. It's a journey that is dark and harsh, and not quite enjoyable because it's not supposed to be. Which makes complete sense why the film was released in January. Execs didn't know how to market this.

The harsh lighting of the film makes you never comfortable with what you are seeing. Almost making you want to squint as much as the actors. It is a constant reminder that the world has become unpleasant, and brutal.

The soundtrack is filled with interesting notes. It easily matches the feel of the movie as it surges in confrontation and ebbs through transition. It's almost completely unheard, save for 2 songs that will strike a cord for anyone that listens to oldies channels. Personally I think either Classical or 60's rock would have been better, but the choices used make sense.

Book of Eli gives us the mostly silent, brooding hero that is imperfect in a far from perfect world. The early inaction to save a woman from being raped is matched with the compassion of allowing another woman that is bait to live. A good deed that has a reward just as painful as you might imagine it to be.

Early on we know what the book is, though there is a twist to it that you just won't expect. Even so this is hardly a religious film. It's a film about conviction and faith. The faith of Eli to do what he believes he must, and to walk though the valley of death to get it done.

Denzel Washington is not the action hero you would expect for this film. If you are hoping for Mad Max, you won't get it. But you do get a strong character with a presence that stands out in every seen. And you feel the burden of his character in every word and step.

Mila Kunis has a decent role. A far cry from her television personality, the role hints at greater acting depth. Hints at it but never quite makes it. You never get to feel for her character Solaris. You just understand that she is there. Not really helping, or standing out. But not a disteraction either. It's an odd role to fill and if she was intended to be so subdued then she did a great job.

Gary Oldman was probably the least pleasant of all the actors in the film. Not because he is a bad actor, but because he never really gets into the Carnegie character. You know that Carnegie is willing to do whatever it takes to keep control. That he wants power. That he can be ruthless. But you never feel the fear he seems to instill in the townsfolk, nor the loyalty of his key enforcers. He's a bad guy virtually devoid of his evil, like a Stansfield without the energy or panache.

Watching this film you feel like you are always waiting for something to happen. Not in an edge of your seat kind of way, but s in a "something big should happen" kind of feeling. And it never does. Even in the final scenes of the film you never get a sense of completion. It feels empty, like something was missed.

I can't balme the writing or acting, or visuals of this film. None are impeccable yet none are badly done. It's just not compelling. Interesting but not the rush you expect walking into the film.

The Book of Eli is a good film for watching on DVD. To pick at the subtle references, and specific lines. To let it simmer in your mind and to wonder about a world gone so wrong. To consider what price redemption might cost, and how it might be paid.

This is not an action movie fan's movie. This is not a Mad Max sci-fi fan film. It's just odd. Watchable, but odd. Almost like watching Grand Canyon - a film that is more just a moment in time than entertainment.

Movie Preview: Book of Eli

Well the movie trailer has been released and Book of Eli looks like it will be another hit for Denzel Washington.



I have to say that I am impressed. Denzel Washington is not known for his action movies. Actually, other than a couple of fist fights or shoot-outs he has no real action movies. So this is a new departure for him. And from the trailer I would say that he wouldn’t last in a fight against Riddick, but still looks good.

The post-nuclear war world this film envisions instantly draws me to the Mad Max films. It’s gritty, with harsh sunlight, desolate, and unforgiving. It sets the mood of the depressing results of a war no one escaped. So in that the visuals hit the mark.

The fact that Gary Oldman is in this film is another plus. I have always enjoyed his portrayals. My favorite has to be ‘Stan’ Stansfield from The Professional. And while we have yet to see exactly how he is in this film I’d expect a lot. Likely this is a character that crosses say Aunty Entity, Stansfield, and Cornelius Hatcher (for a bit of lightness).

Thinking about it I think that the entire film could include a few mixes of characters we have seen before. Denzel is obviously an older Mad Max, Man With No Name (Sergio Leone films), John Smith (Last Man Standing) or Hugo Toorop type of character. Weary and burdened, but willing to be the hero if reluctantly.

The big question is what is in the book? That is what is really bugging me. It is supposed to bring redemption to mankind. Which makes me think it’s a religious tome. But it could be a scientific journal containing a cure to some biological weapon released in the end of the war. Or it could be an agricultural book with farming techniques. It even could be the Declaration of Independence. I mean it really can go in a dozen different directions. Which explains why everyone might want the book, since they don’t know what it is. Kind of like the Book of Life from Circle of Iron.

Based on what the movie trailer is presenting, and the quality of the actors, this should be a must see film. The only real doubt I have on the film is the fact that it is coming out in January. Which is a notorious time for the worst films to be released. Though that has changed slightly in recent years.

I reserve my final opinion until a bit more comes out about the film. For now, the hype is still bigger than the movie. But I will still want to see it, as it does look like a good action/sci-fi film.

Allegations against Will Smith - 12.26.2007.1

So I’ve read the response of Will Smith on the allegation that he claimed “Hitler was a good guy”. It is complete idiocy. How someone can come to that conclusion is beyond comprehension to me.

Let’s take the actual quote made by Will Smith.

“Even Hitler didn't wake up going, 'let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was 'good.’”

Now when you think about that, I find it hard to see that as an endorsement. You really have to reach to come to any conclusion that is positive about Hitler. Add to that fact that Mr. Smith is an actor, and a very good one.

I do not know how many times I’ve heard actors discuss the motivations of their characters. From Forest Whitaker discussing playing Idi Amin, to Denzel Washington discussing his crooked cop in Training Day, to Gary Oldman in the Fifth Element or The Professional. You can go on and on, but the consistent thought has always been that an actor needs to find what motivates their character. And for the bad guys it’s often that the character does not see their actions as bad or evil. Often that character views their actions as a positive, either for themselves or the world at large.

This applies to the Will Smith lead character Neville in I am Legend. For those that are not familiar with the original book, or the prior 3 movies, Neville is the bad guy. He is the monster in the night that kills people in their sleep. He is the Dracula, or Frankenstein’s monster. He is the thing under the bed. Net result, he is the bad guy that the people of the world fear, and speak of in legends and ghost stories late at night.

But Neville does not realize this, and the audience is not given that perspective until the end of the movie and book. It’s a perspective few films take on, and it changes the view of the world and our traditional views of it.

Thus in looking at the motivation of the character, and preparation of the role the actor must look at it in a manner where you would say “he set out to do what is good.” And there are far too many real life figures that did the same. Vlad the Impaler (who is a positive figure in his native land), Genghis Khan, the first emperor of China, Idi Amin, Alexander the Great, and yes Hitler all thought they were improving the world. That fact that they were repulsive, to at least parts of the world if not all the world, does not change their motivations. To say this is not to endorse their actions but to state a truth of their mind set, and a motivation for actors portraying them.

So when a writer states, immediately before Mr. Smith’s quote,

“Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good.”

That is out of context and an insult to Mr. Smith. It’s an attempt to sensationalize a common acting tool and a historical truth. It’s a twisting of words for the monetary gain, and an attempt at international fame for the gratification of the Daily Record writer. And it offends me.

There is no reason to slap the image and personal character of Will Smith. It’s an affront I have never seen made of any other actor. I have heard dozens of actors of note that have made similar statements when portraying questionable or reviled characters. None have ever been accused of promoting the base nature of the character they portray.

You have never heard say Kevin Kline advocating animal cruelty or violence (Fish Called Wanda), or Al Pacino advocating devil worship (The Devil’s Advocate). How about Al Pacino being a role model for cocaine use (Scarface), Sir Anthony Hopkins being Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), or Henry Fonda as an assassin for hire (Once Upon a Time in the West). Of course not. To claim such a thing is ridiculous. But if you look at each character you can see where they have a motivation that is positive (from the bad guys perspective) and that makes the character engaging and deeper.

Some might say this is a racial thing. I feel it’s more an American thing, and a rich thing. Will Smith is a successful American, and Black. Overseas there are many that would love to poke at Americans, and the wealthy. The additional fact that Mr. Smith is African American is just another bonus. It’s a trifecta for a mean-spirited and self-aggrandizing writer. And it has no place in fact or criticism of Mr. Smith and his acting ability.

If anyone believes that Will Smith advocates or excuses the actions of Hitler, they are far too small minded to understand actors portraying roles or the difference of a personal motivation and the actual effect of those actions. It would appear that the Daily Record employs such a writer. I feel bad for the readers of that publication as they are being given a disservice.

I can only hope that the American major media stand by Will Smith, and recognize the insulting and defamatory nature of this writing in the Daily Record. And I ask the Daily Record print an apology to Mr. Smith for the actions their writer and editor allowed to appear in their publication. It’s the least they can do.