Faith in Film 2, The Book of Eli

"The Book of Eli" is always a film that leaves me feeling a bit conflicted. It is a film that is closely tied to elements of the Christian faith. In fact, from a literal standpoint, the Bible is at the heart of the narrative. But the question is whether or not it depicts our faith, and the truth of the Scriptures, in a real way.

This is where I think the film loses ground a bit. Many in the Christian community praised it as a secular-made evangelical tool. Though there are some valid evangelical elements to it (mostly in the performance of star Denzel Washington), I think the film corrupts Scripture and offers a flawed view of the Bible, and the Bible's place in society.

I think there are two ways to analyze this film. First is a question of filmmaking. This is not my cup of tea. I was in good company among many film critics that offered a harsh view of the world and events depicted in the film. The world of "The Book of Eli" is a dark, violent, and hopeless place. It is easiest to find context here if you consider that this could be a vision of a fallen world in the midst of the Tribulation. However, that offers little comfort.

I thought the way the film was presented was also overly violent. The film pulls no punches in earning its R rating and is, in fact, quite graphic in the way it depicts the events of the story.

The second way to consider the film is from a theological standpoint. The question is whether it accurately captures our faith in a real way. The answer to that question is yes and no. Washington, the film's star, is an outspoken Christian. In fact, he considered becoming a minister of the word.

He was quoted as saying, “A part of me still says, ‘Maybe, Denzel, you’re supposed to preach. Maybe you’re still compromising.’ I’ve had an opportunity to play great men and, through their words, to preach. I take what talent I’ve been given seriously, and I want to use it for good.”

That faith has, at times, defined his career. And I think he brings a deep, personal faith to the role. In some ways the filmmakers — The Hughes Brothers — allow him the freedom to express that faith. When you consider the way Eli treats the Bible and the way he tries to convey his faith to his young friend, Solara, you see the most beautiful elements of our Christian faith. In fact, I contend you see a depiction of faith in action that should inspire us all.

Eli has great reverence for the word of God, reading it daily and committing it to memory. More than that, when he explains it to others he has a deep understanding and abiding love of the scripture. His prayers are beautiful in their simplicity and in the humble way he gives them. I have been reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and in the early chapters he notes that too often we don't have enough reverence for the power and importance of prayer in our lives and we don't have enough reverence and awe for God. Eli does, and his demonstration of this is moving and humbling to me.

But that is contrasted with a film that uses Scripture and Christianity as a prop in a plot. Many of Eli's actions during the numerous fight scenes betray the words he speaks and the example he tries to set for Solara. In addition, though Eli often explains Scripture in a theologically accurate way, the way the film uses the Scripture is as a clever addendum to the plot or a justification for a plot gimmick.

In the end, the film also doesn't have much reverence for the idea of the Bible. Though the Bible, and protecting the Bible, is at the heart of the narrative, the film doesn't really care about what the Bible represents. At the end you see the Bible lumped in with other "important works" like the Torah and the Qur'an. There is an inconsistency of message here that I find particularly dangerous given the fact that so many seem to see this film as an evangelistic tool. It's not.

So I have mixed feelings about "The Book of Eli." There are elements of Eli's witness to others that uphold our values as Christians, but the film as a whole seems less interested in the tenants of faith than in creating an apocalyptic action film for the masses.