2010-01-14 01:52:24

THE BOOK OF ELI: SOUL POWER

Filed under: Faith,Featured,Film,Justice
Posted by: Craig

A man with no name wanders across a barren desert. He forages for food and supplies. He doesn’t pick fights, but he certainly settles them. We’ve seen these vistas before, but not with as much punch or panache. The Book of Eli is stylish and smart, a post-apocalyptic western perfectly suited for our era of economic reassessment. It offers a heroic version of Christian faith in action, defending a rare and endangered Word of God. The Book of Eli rocks, rolls and delivers a whopping dose of soul.

Denzel Washington offers a laconic and athletic performance as Eli. He is a man of few words. He tries to avoid conflict. But when threatened, he responds with considerable force. Those who push him too far may suddenly find themselves missing a limb. Denzel joins a long line of iconic cinematic cowboys like Toshiro Mifune’s samurai in Yojimbo, Tom Laughlin as Billy Jack, and Clint Eastwood’s Outlaw Josey Wales.

The Book of Eli earns its R-rated with bursts of shocking violence. Some Christians may find it too coarse or profane. But it is also remarkably faith affirming. Eli is a righteous warrior, a man on a mission, dialed into God’s call. He will not be deterred from his calling to protect the book, The Book, the Holy Bible. The film has echoes of the Old Testament in its grim surroundings, its struggle for survival, and its bloody, high stakes battle over a holy document. It takes us back to first things. How should we live? Who should be in charge? What happens when there are not enough supplies to go around? The Book of Eli presents a grim picture of humanity. Yet, amidst the post apocalyptic wasteland, Eli represents a glimmer of hope. I wrote a Bible study guide (with downloadable clips!) for the film. Find it here.

The Book of Eli shows what happens if justice takes a holiday. Everyone is forced to scavenge to survive. Even worse, what if leaders willingly deceive the public? Is there a norming norm to call us back to order? We desperately need the wisdom and inspiration found in God’s word. Yet, The Book of Eli also suggests that the Bible can be dangerous and explosive. In the wrong hands, it could become a tool of deception and domination. Gary Oldman co-stars as the ruthless self anointed sheriff, Carnegie. He rules a frontier town through intimidation. Carnegie sends out a posse in search of books. And what does he do with the works of art and literature his gangs round up? Burns them. The Book of Eli affirms the power of words—for good or evil.

Solara (Mila Kunis) and her mother, Claudia (Jennifer Beals) are caught in the middle, trying to survive under Carnegie’s reign of terror. They dream of a better place and long for a different way of being. Solara has only experienced fear and domination–until Eli walks into town. He offers a viable alternative, rooted in prayer, gratitude and cooperation. Solara is intrigued by such refreshing ways of relating to each other.

The Book of Eli is well timed for our economic depression. We’re reassessing our values. As directors, The Hughes Brothers drain almost all signs of life, color and comfort out of the landscape. Their cinematic world is harsh, bleak, burned over. The sharp script by Gary Whitta causes us to consider what things are worth. What matters in a world where food and water is in short supply? How much would you exchange for a few minutes of musical comfort? Can the soulful sounds of Al Green heal the most broken heart? The Book of Eli challenges us to be grateful for life’s simple pleasures.

The creative team at Alcon Entertainment has demonstrated the same faith fueled taste that rocketed their surprise hit, The Blind Side, to box office glory. They make Christian conviction cool. It earns the poster tag line “BeELIve.” But The Book of Eli never devolves into preachiness. Eli is a reluctant warrior who walks without fear. In a cruel world, he demonstrates that a sword can be wielded with holy restraint.

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2010-01-08 02:35:10

BEST OF THE DECADE? A JOURNEY “INTO THE DARK”

Filed under: Faith,Featured,Film
Posted by: Craig

Have you felt besieged by Top Ten lists? Every newspaper critic (and all kinds of Internet critics) have chimed in with their best of 2009. Alas, I still have too many essential films I need to see. I could list the best of what I’ve seen. But too many slots may shift in the next month. What tops your list? Any obscure recommendations?

Some outlets offered up best of the decade lists. The beautific Paste Magazine devoted the entire month of November to their top music, film and gaming choices. Roger Ebert came up with quite an eclectic list for best of the decade, topped by Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York. My partner at Purple State of Mind, John Marks, cooked up a rather amazing and diverse list.

I threw my hat in even earlier. My book, Into the Dark, dove into the top films of the 21st Century according to voters on the Internet Movie Database. Amongst the top titles: Donnie Darko, City of God, Spirited Away and The Lives of Others. The timing of my dissertation demanded that I adopt a list from 2000 to 2008. So I couldn’t squeeze the entire decade into the book. No Dark Knight, No Slumdog Millionaire, No Wall-E.

Thankfully, some of my sharpest grads have taken up the challenge. The creative team at rednow.com are inviting people to enter INTO THE DARK–to screen and discuss 60 films during 2010. They’re incorporating a recent release which may enter the ‘new canon’ as well as forgotten classics and worthy documentaries. The January list includes Avatar, 12 Angry Men, and the intriguing doc, Objectified. If you’re already a Netflix subscriber, what a great way to work through films in community. So sign up and start watching!

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2009-12-18 11:54:38

Avatar: Going Native

Filed under: Environment,Faith,Film
Posted by: Craig

So I joined some hardy friends for the first midnight screening of Avatar. The atmosphere in the lobby was charged like a rock concert. Fanboys and girls lining up early (despite our reserved seats!). Once the movie started, a hushed tone of reverent awe descended upon the audience. Nobody dared to talk or get up for the restroom during the almost three hour movie. We didn’t want to miss a single frame. Time flew (even though the final scenes wrapped at 3am. Avatar unfolds at a breathless pace. It is a breathtaking delight loaded with spiritual subtext.

James Cameron has crafted a paean to Mother Earth and Native Spirituality. I blogged about it for Beliefnet. Get the full story here.

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