Simon Dillon reviews the film

The Book of Eli, the latest from the Hughes Brothers (who directed the likes of Menace II Society and the rather underrated Dead Presidents) has been critically maligned in most quarters, including the once great but now increasingly unreliable Empire magazine. Yes it's a bit messy, contrived and predictable at times, but on the whole it's an entertaining and fascinating piece of work that works on many levels, especially spiritually.

The plot concerns another post apocalypse scenario - the second in as many weeks - whereby a survivor of an unspecified global cataclysm, Eli (Denzel Washington), makes his way west to the ocean. If that sounds a lot like The Road, let me assure you that is where the similarities end.

Eli carries with him a mysterious and secret book and appears to be divinely protected. His journey across a ravaged and lawless America is very akin to a western like A Fistful of Dollars via the future shock of Mad Max.

Eli comes to a town presided over by the power hungry Carnegie (Gary Oldman back in villain mode). Carnegie desperately wants to get his hands on the book Eli has because he knows its power. It transpires that all copies of this particular book have been destroyed but this one, since it was widely believed the book itself sparked the apocalypse.
Carnegie believes this book will help him gain power but Eli is determined he will not get it.

What the book is comes as no major surprise as its obvious from the start, but what is fascinating is the way the Hughes Brothers - via Gary Whitta's screenplay - show not only how said book can be used for great good, but also how it can be perverted into evil in the wrong hands (history is full of examples).

Washington and Oldman are both good, as is Mila Kunis (a young girl who becomes a disciple of sorts to Eli). There are also a couple of fine cameos from Michael Gambon and Malcolm McDowell. The desert locations and special effects are well used, and there is plenty of action (one gunfight filmed as a continuous shot is particularly noteworthy).

This is a film that recognises the power of ideology and - more importantly - the power of God over the power of violence (and believe me, there is plenty of violence and gore to be found here). The Book of Eli is an absolutely full-on, blatantly Christian piece of work that for me is another outstanding example of creative evangelism. That is meant as a compliment, though it perhaps explains some of the criticism that has been unfairly levelled against it. The presence of the afore-mentioned strong violence (and swearing) will no doubt put off many Christian audiences but this is not a film for them. The Book of Eli is designed to appeal to a very specific non-Christian audience that will undoubtedly make them think about God, discipleship, destiny and just what it is that makes this particular book so special. It may even get some of them reading it.

There is absolutely loads of spiritual food for thought in this film - too much to detail in this review. Everything from following God without compromise to the importance of hiding God's word in one's heart is covered and although cyncial Christians might suggest one shot near the end is a not so subtle affirmation of religious pluralism, it isn't.
It's merely a microcosm of what secular society has often done with Christianity. Meanwhile, the spreading of the word continues, as made clear by the final scene.