i had the very cool experience, the other day, of getting to see an early screening of the book of eli, the new film starring denzel washington, gary oldman, and mila kunis, and directed by the hughes brothers. and, to make the whole thing even more surreal, i had a chance to sit in with a small group of “religious press” (about 8 of us — how i qualified is still a bit beyond me) who met one-at-a-time with each of those three stars, and alan hughes.
short movie summary (you can read more on the website): denzel plays eli, a man living in a post-apocalyptic america, carrying a bible on a “mission from god” (ht: blues brothers) to a destination and result he doesn’t know. gary oldman plays carnagie, a despot with complexity (aren’t the best despots always 3-dimensional?) who lords over a small town and a compulsion to find a bible. mila kunis plays solara, carnagie’s innocent step-daughter, who has never known another world, but finds hope for something more. eli has learned, through his 30 year trek, to defend himself and survive an almost-impossible life alone in this world that does not have room for loners. he’s a one-man machine when it comes to defending his precious cargo, and refuses anything (including companionship, at first) that even offers a hint of distraction or failure in his pilgrimage.
it’s an r-rated, bleak world, with some pretty stunning fight scenes.
but the themes the movie teases out are rich. both eli and carnagie are passionate about the bible, but for very different reasons. carnagie sees it as a weapon, a tool with which to control others, while eli sees it as the only option for redemption in his brutal world. there are a handful of surprises and turns that make the story rich, including one that found me choked up with tears.
when we asked denzel about the change in his character, as he wrestled with whether or not to let solara play a role in his life and quest, he responded, “sometimes we get so focused, in god’s name, and” (i’m paraphrasing here) we need an innocent to stop us in our tracks and re-evaluate. man, that had a ring of youth ministry to me, or christian ministry in general. i know there have been many times in my life when a teenager has been used by god to bring me re-focus on my own pilgrimage.
i loved alan hughes’ response when he was asked why he chose the bible, and not just a non-descript sacred book. he simply said, “it had to be the bible! it’s the bible, man!” he went on to say, “the bible is in the movie, but it’s not a movie about the bible. it’s about one man’s faith, and one could use the bible to enslave, and another to set free.” gah. that’s some rich stuff for hollywood.
the thought i was left with the most, as jeannie and i talked about the movie for hours, was how all of us have the potential to “use” the bible to our own ends. we find what we want in scripture, to support our own desires — good and evil, conscious and subconscious. we all do this, even the best-intentioned. eli makes a comment, late in the film, about his own shift. i don’t have the exact wording; but it was something along the lines of how he’d been protecting the bible for so long that he’d lost sight of allowing it’s message to guide him. man, that’s a sermon worth preaching, and worth hearing.
totally talked me in to seeing it. Of course with Denzel I would probably have seen it anyway, but now i am very intrigued. Thanks Marko!
In the midst of all that Jesus says we find his heart is to set us free when we know Him, the truth. For he seeks to destroy that which locks us down to this world. May it be our Father’s will alone that leads us as we see in Jesus submitting to the Father. May His word be so apart of us that when The Spirit moves in us we know His voice well enough to follow it. May it all come down and be sent back to where it came from that keeps us from our beloved Father.
Wow, you actually got to be in a room with Denzel asking questions? I thought you just were going to watch the MOVIE…that’s pretty AWESOME! What a great date night! Looking forward to what God is going to use you in next! ~LaDonna
That is so awesome! I was invited to a screening last weekend to review the film but was out of town. But Denzel wasn’t gonna be at my screening! I’m so jealous! :)
Marko,
Thanks for coming to St. Louis to spend a few days with youth ministers from the churches of Christ. I appreciated your words, and was challenged and encouraged by your Youth Ministry 3.0 class. I just finished reading this book, just shortly before that, Who Moved my Cheese. I can’t begin to say thank you enough for putting into to words that feelings of exasperation I have been feeling too. I am looking forward to contextualizing all of the good stuff from the book, and seeing what happens where I am at.
Thank you again
looking forward to see it
i have not seen the movie but watched the tailer looks like its going to be a good movie.just wanted to say a few things about it from a bibical point of veiw i do hope that everyone does here the Gods voice when he speaks to there heart and respounds to it there is a time comeing not so much different than the movie when the earth willbe filled with great tribulateion when Gods judgement is poured out for the sin of mankind the bible tells us that it will last 7 years the truth is Gods word and salvation though jesus is mans only hope was in the past and is now God loves all of us very much and is not willing that any of should perish but many will unless they turn from sin . the movie does have bit of truth in it but not the whole truth. my prayer for everyone out there is that that people will take a look at way things are in the world and know that it cant go much longer the way things are maybe the movie might make them think
GOD BLESS,THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS THE ONLY,I MEAN THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS,CAOS AND CRISIS IN THIS WORLD IS THE FATHER,THE SON(JESUS CHRIST) AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,THE MOVIE WILL ENHANCE HOPEFULLY YOUR SPIRITUAL SIDE OF LOOKING AT THINGS,SITUATIONS AND DILEMAS AND BE POSITIVE ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF EVERYBODYS PURPOSE IN OUR LIFE,HUGHES BROS THE MOVIE IS A COMPLETE VICTORY,SUCCESS AND TICKET BUSTER,ITS A 10 STAR MOVIE,WE NNED MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE ,GOOD CONQUER EVIL,ALWAYS.THANK FROM PUERTO RICO.CHEO
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the review/heads up.
Great movie! The cinematography of an a post-apocalyptic world was bleak and compelling. Denzel was…well Denzel. He is excellent at portraying a character with purpose and determination, and this role suits these skills and his ability as an action hero. (Of course, I’m just a movie-goer and you actually met him so what do I know?)
I really liked the story which is original, and it illustrates things we try to live out as Christ-followers. In his journey of faith, the main character demonstrates personal sacrifice and devotion to God’s mission at any cost. He shows the struggles with living out what he believes. The movie also addresses the excesses we live with and take for granted. It also shows the power and value of the Bible like no movie I’ve ever seen. Thanks for recommending this movie, and I would encourage anyone old enough to see an R-rated movie (it’s violent) to check this one out.