Last night I watched one of my favourite films!
The Book of Eli (2010)
You know when you just have a real urge to watch a certain film or listen to a specific song? I had that last night with this movie.
I hadn’t seen it for a while so it felt like an even bigger treat, especially after my previous night’s Howard the Duck experience.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s a stylistic, post-apocalyptic action/thriller directed by the Hughes brothers (From Hell, Menace II Society) that stars Denzel Washington (The Equalizer), Gary Oldman (Leon) and Mila Kunis (Black Swan) among others.
If you have seen it PLEASE avoid posting spoilers in the comments.
This is what it’s about according to IMDb:
“A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.”
I’ve said before that I have a strange fascination with the whole apocalypse idea and this film just scratches that itch for me.
I’d even go as far as to say that certain zombie movies aside, this is my all time favourite post-apocalyptic film (yes, even better than Mad Max).
Unfortunately I think it’s both underrated and unappreciated. I get that some people might be put off by the title with its religious connotations but believe me, I don’t believe one way or another and I love this film!
Denzel Washington, as you’d expect is brilliant as the main protagonist Eli, as is Gary Oldman as the movies villain, Carnegie.
Not only is the story really good but visually the film is superb! It has a real “graphic novel-like” feel with wide angles and desaturated colours that really make you believe earth is a depressing, lawless wasteland.
Throw in some excellently directed and choreographed fight scenes and you’ve got a movie that will more than adequately satisfy you not only for the 1 hour and 58 minutes you’re watching it, but for a long while after while you ponder the ending.
If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend you track it down and give it a watch.
If you have seen seen it, let me know below and again, please avoid posting spoilers!