The Book of Eli (2010)
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 192
Fresh: 92 | Rotten: 100
It's certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but The Book of Eli finds the Hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of post-apocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately.
Average Rating: 5.6/10
Critic Reviews: 39
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 22
It's certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but The Book of Eli finds the Hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of post-apocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately.
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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 308,107
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Movie Info
In a post-apocalyptic America where the once-picturesque countryside has become a desolate and violent wasteland, one man (Denzel Washington) fights to protect that sacred tome that could hold the key to the survival of the human race in this futuristic thriller from filmmaking duo Albert and Allen Hughes (From Hell and Dead Presidents). Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, and Ray Stevenson co-star in the Warner Bros. production. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Cast
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Gary Oldman
Carnegie -
Mila Kunis
Solara -
Ray Stevenson
Redridge -
Jennifer Beals
Claudia -
Evan Jones
Martz -
Joe Pingue
Hoyt -
Frances De La Tour
Martha -
Michael Gambon
George -
Tom Waits
Engineer -
Chris Browning
Hijack Leader -
Richard Cetrone
Hijacker -
Keith Davis
Hijacker -
Don Thai Theerathada
Hijacker -
Thom Harris Williams
Hijacker -
Lateef Crowder
Hijacker/Construction T... -
Lora Martinez Cunningham
Young Woman Hijacker -
Scott Wilder
Middle-Aged Man -
Heidi Pascoe
Middle-Aged Woman -
Jennifer Caputo
Biker -
Eddie Perez
Biker -
Spencer Sano
Biker/Town Thug -
Karin Silvestri
Biker -
Mike Gunther
Sniper -
John Koyama
Sniper -
Mike McCarty
Sniper -
Scott Michael Morgan
Construction Thug Leade... -
Sala Baker
Construction Thug -
Arron Shiver
Bartender -
Justin Tade
Town Doctor -
Mike Seal
Door Guard -
Richard Smith
Orpheum Patron -
Edward A. Duran
Town Thug -
David Wald
Town Thug -
Jermaine Washington
Town Thug -
Paul Crawford
Town Thug -
Kofi W. Elam
Convoy Thug -
Clay Donahue Fontenot
Convoy Thug -
Al Goto
Convoy Thug -
Brad Martin
Convoy Thug -
Tim Rigby
Convoy Thug -
Luis Bordonada
Carnegie Gunman #1 -
Robert Powell
Carnegie Gunman #2 -
Angelique Midthunder
Catling Gun Gunner -
Todd Schneider
Caddy Driver -
Darrin Prescott
Suburban Driver -
Laurence Chavez
Ice Cream Truck Driver -
Brian Lucero
Alcatraz Guard -
David Midthunder
Alcatraz Soldier
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The Book of Eli Trailer & Photos
All Critics (192) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (102) | DVD (9)
The Hughes brothers' film feels more vibrant than the bleak Road, which was launched at us in November. Here the brothers show us the horror but somehow the staid and calm Denzel feels more approachable than the distraught and scrambling Viggo.
Top Critict's a post-apocalyptic western, it's an evangelical tract, it's a road movie, it's a martial arts movie, it's a disaster movie, it's a graphic novel. It's equal parts The Road and The Robe, A Fistful of Dollars and Fist of Fury. It's Mad Max meets Left Be
Washington doesn't look as if he's having much fun, and who can blame him?
I'm not going to give it away, but there's a final plot twist in this movie that is beyond absurd.
Really, it's just another prophet-in-the-wilderness tale -- not nearly as bad as those trailers would suggest, yet neither will your soul run any risk of enlightenment.
Allen and Albert Hughes have created a plausible post-apocalyptic world.
"The Book of Eli" falls prey to several of the problems that "The Road" had, and while it wasn't as big a failure as that film, it's still a lot of apocalyptic wasteland to get through.
The ending of this film has got to be the longest ending in the history of cinema.
I sat down to The Book of Eli expecting a lecture, and was instead treated to a rollicking action film that evoked the manic ultra-violence of Mad Max rather than the sensitive study of humanity of The Road.
The prophet Denzel practices his preach in the post-apocalyptic western The Book of Eli. Jesus will not be pleased.
...a watchable endeavor that should please fans of the genre...
The Book of Eli was missing a few chapters.
While the movie has illusions of portentousness, it can - and should - be taken as a chance to see good actors having a little too much ultra-violent fun.
... this post-apocalyptic odyssey manages to bring a spiritual miracle journey to the secular world and deliver a payoff on both levels.
A crackpot blend of sadism and scriptures, and reeking with the raw scent of a fanatical fundamentalism in cool video game clothing.
A crackpot blend of sadism and scriptures, and reeking with the raw scent of a fanatical fundamentalism in cool video game clothing.
It's not a great film, but has moments of brilliance. Jennifer Beals is outstanding and the lack of heavy-handed religious grandstanding is a welcome touch.
Despite Denzel Washington turning in a trademark, charismatic performance underscored by appropriately monochromatic cinematography, the film is still surprisingly unengaging.
...given a chance, without thinking too much about its simplistic moralizing, it can provide a rousing good time in the action department. (Blu-ray Combo Edition)
...if you can't get enough of this postapocalyptic stuff,'The Book of Eli' isn't a bad addition to the genre.
"I'm not certain the shell-game resolution is worth the journey, but the picture is satisfactorily atmospheric and often challenging, perhaps even unintentionally chilling in its closing statement of devotion."
Its unusual ambition and thoughtfulness make it resonate a bit more than most slick studio action fare.
Coming hot on the heels of The Road, Eli is a far more conventional and formulaic vision of future hell.
Audience Reviews for The Book of Eli
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Eli: Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are... and to the dust we shall return.
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- Eli: I walk by faith, not by sight.
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- Eli: With all my heart and soul. [pauses] I always believed that I'd find a place where this book belonged, where it was neededâ?¦ but I haven't found it yet.
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- Solara: It's amazing you two have survived out here all by yourselves.
- Martha: Well George is somewhat of a handyman, we've had a few try and take it from us, haven't we George!
- George: Yes we have.
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- Martha: I know what the fuck I'm doin'!
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- Eli: You got anymore weapons?
- George: Weapons! I'll show you weapons!
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on The Book of Eli
June 15, 2010:
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Book of Eli and Youth in RevoltThis week on home video, we've got a few more new releases for you to peruse, and, as always, the...
January 14, 2010:
Critics Consensus: The Book of Eli Is a So-So ReadThis week at the movies, we've got Biblical bloodshed (The Book of Eli, starring Denzel Washington...
January 13, 2010:
Total Recall: Denzel Washington's Best MoviesOver the course of his more than 30 years in show business, Denzel Washington has done pretty much...
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Foreign Titles
- Book of Eli (UK)
- Le Livre d'Eli (FR)
