Studying many film books as of late–one book in particular continually praised the skillful execution of the film, ‘THE BOOK OF ELI’ (Denzel Washington). At first I couldn’t grasp the reasons behind all the favorable appraisal and critical interest, because as I recalled from my viewing of it a few years back, my impressions of the movie were of disappointment and boredom. Mainly due to the deceptive marketing campaign which seemed to promise a high-octane gritty action film akin to a ‘I Am Legend’ or ‘Road Warrior’ leading up to its release date. But given that I held the author in high regard for his expertise and knowledge of cinema, I felt the film deserved a second viewing to examine if there was something I missed the first time…
…and Oh Boy! I missed A LOT!
From the edgy editing cuts, quiet but powerful soundtrack, stylish cinematography, and narrative caveats. I have to say…IT’S MY NEW FAVORITE FILM! Also, it was quickly evident that my own personal disappointment of not getting the movie i expected the first time, clouded my thinking and receptiveness to the subtle elegance of this film’s execution. I mean the revelation of Eli’s handicap revealed at the end blew my mind so profoundly that a shock-wave of images and scenes rushed inside my mind and collided into a perfect understanding behind the cinematography choices, gestures, and character building moments I overlooked before. This made me smile from ear to ear–not out of laughter, but as an acknowledgment of a whole new level of respect for the filmmakers execution and Denzel’s BRILLIANT performance.
