Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Book of Eli

Claire and I watched The Book of Eli a week or so after it came out. The previews make this look like a lone wolf character with a powerful weapon moving through a post-apocalyptic world. The previews are not wrong: but this movie is more than just that.

Denzel Washington has played a lot of angry badasses in the last 10 years. They often have drinking problems and at least a touch of faith. This role is not a significant departure from that, but at least one scene is martial arts genius, shot in a way that allows it to be stylized but still look realistic. Gary Oldman again masterfully plays a very bad man.

There are other innovative features to the film, such as subtle perpetual lighting changes that I believe are meant to indicate damage to the ozone layer. There is at least one surprise you should not see coming. 3.5/5 stars.

1 comment:

phlegmfatale said...

You make it sound better. I may see that, one day.


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