The Book of Eli

For a long time I have enjoyed going to the movies. I have gone, traditionally, at least once a month, and I generally see a wide variety of films. I like to be kept up to the minute on which films will be "Oscar contenders" and which films will fly under the radar, yet be worth owning when they come out on DVD. But something strange has happened in the past few months: much like updating this blog, I haven't had the time to go to the cinema. Life has gotten in the way. But, in the midst of my vacation, I was able to find my way into a nice, new Cinemark in Denton, Texas. The movie of choice was "The Book of Eli."

I wanted to see this movie because of Denzel Washington. I've always thought that Washington was a good actor who generally got himself typecast into these nice, neat roles without much range. As his career has progressed he began doing more movies which pressed the issue, none more successfully than "Training Day," which is a great watch. "Eli" seemed to be in a similar mold; ten years ago I would have had a hard time envisioning Denzel in a futuristic, apocalypse tale. Yet here he was, and I settled in to evaluate the show.

Washington, for his part, does well in this movie. Stylistically he often allows his looks, mixed with the grave surroundings, to convey the depth of the situation. His dialogue, early on, is almost nonexistent, and even once he begins to talk he says very little. Not a great deal is disclosed about how the world became the way it is, but leaving it to the imagination was exceptionally effective in this regard. And, once the fighting begins, Washington's trainings in the martial arts really showed.

The supporting cast, featuring Gary Oldman as the villain and Mila Kunis as the young Solara, did a serviceable job. Oldman succeeds in making you want to go after him, while Kunis continues to spread her wings and grow from her past role in "That 70s Show." As Kunis builds her relationship with Washington, and Oldman and his gangs chase them, a strict dichotomy emerges between good and evil.

Ultimately, the movie presents as your typical post-apocalyptic action flick, but it ends up delivering much more. The movie carries on at a great pace, and surprises you many times with its twists and turns. It's ending leaves much to be thought about, and if you are one to contemplate things in a big picture way then this movie is one you will enjoy.

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW: 3 1/2 out of 5