Walk by Faith
February 2, 2010
Filed under A & E, Uncategorized
After the epic crime film, American Gangster, many movie fans believed that Denzel Washington had peaked out his performance level. But like any great actor, Denzel has out-done himself again. Washington stars as protagonist in the Book of Eli, playing a hardened religious man in a desolate, post-Apocalyptic world with only one mission…the mission of God.
The mysterious character, Eli, seems to be the only man with morals in a time of rampant chaos and confusion. The movie mentions that the environment was destroyed after a huge war in which many people were either killed or blinded. The barren earth lacks key ingredients for survival, including both food and water. The setting is very similar to conditions in the Wild West and crime is equally prevalent.
Eli is very unique in this story because he possesses an object that has been completely obliterated after the “war.” He has a King James Bible in prime condition. The movie’s leading villain wants to use the Bible’s power for selfish purposes; he has no intention of following its word. Eli, on the other hand, has been given a mission by God to carry the Bible westward. He walks by faith, not by sight.
Throughout his journey, Denzel’s character encounters a friend, another person with at least somewhat capacity for good. The girl he meets helps him accomplish his task. However vague the instructions are, Eli and Solara pursue their calling with all that they have.
The movie has some very strong themes, the most obvious being how the interpretation of religion can have many different outcomes on the population. Another prevalent message is the power of faith and how believing in something bigger than one’s self can provide more motivation than ever imagined.
The Book of Elie stands out as one of Denzel Washington’s most powerful roles, if not the most. As with any other film containing Washington, the main character is guided by an unfaltering set of morals (be them good or bad). The power of good in this flick helps point out strong Christian themes and although it is fiction, the truths ring out much louder than the fantasy world created in the movie.
Too blatantly religious propaganda for me.
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