You know, this has been what feels like a busy weekend.
At least it would do, if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s actually Monday.
Know what I mean … ?
You probably do, I think everyone does that, at some point, after all.
You know, skips a day … ?
Never mind, it’s probably just me …
At any rate, the past few days have been quite busy for someone who’s out of work.
Not least because I managed to put
up a post about the series finalé — The Big Bang — and attended a bit of a non-starting photo-call and had a very interesting natter with a representative from Essex County Fire Service, AND — takes a deep breathe —
had quite a few friends over … !!
Which is kind of the important bit …
As you probably know, by now, I and most of my friends, like a flick or two … or three … or four …
You get the point … !
In fact, it’s the ‘two’ bit that kind of concerns me …
Because, since last night, I’ve watched two films: myself and Movie Night Adrian managed to catch Michæl Caine flick, Harry Brown, last night, and he, I, and Sarah and Kevin D managed to catch Denzel Washington vehicle, The Book of Eli, tonight.
And frankly, I think the neighbours would’ve minded watching, either, but that’s a WHOLE other story …
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GAAAHHH!
Right, let me see if I can get back on track, shall I?
Yes …
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29th June, 2010.
OK, I’ll happily admit that I’ve come back to this post the day after starting it … !!
As I think I said at the start, it was one of those weekends: there was all sorts going on … !
Don’t ask.
Just don’t ask … !
But, at any rate, today finds me the night AFTER Movie Night Adrian, and Sarah and Kevin D all got together to watch the Denzel Washington film, The Book Of Eli.
I’m thinking that the fact the USA is devout — at least, much more visibly devout that many parts of Europe — is very noticeable in The Book of Eli, given that its main character — the Eli of the title, played by Denzel Washington — is a hero given to prayer, saying grace at meals, and calling for the curses of the Lord to be brought down on assorted wrong-doers.
Which is actually central to the plot. The Book of Eli sees Denzel Washington’s central character fighting his way across a USA that’s been devastated in a nuclear war: a nuclear war that, although we’re not told specifically, is heavily implied to have something of a religious nature.
And one that leaves many of the survivors blind.
Including the concubine of Carnegie, the Gary Oldman played antagonist.
And Carnegie …
Carnegie is after a book.
Which turns out to be the last remaining copy of the King James Bible.
And one that turns out the Eli is carry across the continent, after having a dream, vision or hallucination that he should carry across the continent, to an unnamed part of ‘the West’.
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There’s twists and little ironies, there, actually …
Especially when you remember that the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, has a title that translates into English as ‘the recitation’.
Because one of those twist in The Book of Eli sees Eli literally reciting the King James Bible to the (uncredited) Malcolm McDowell character.
Which is where I think I’ll leave that …
But one thing I can do is recommend The Book of Eli to you.
Especially if you’s a taste for Westerns: the one thing that struck about The Book of Eli is that it has a definite feel of a Sergio Leoné western.
Admittedly, one with biker gangs instead of outlaws, and deranged cannibals instead of revenge-crazed Native Americans.
Like I said, nicely twisty …
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By contrast, there’s Harry Brown, the Michæl Caine film that Movie Night Adrian and I managed to catch, on Sunday Night.
Mind you, saying that, both Harry Brown and The Book of Eli both have a similar sort of grim feel to them.
But where The Book of Eli is a very retro-western, post-apocalypse, the same is definitely not the case for Harry Brown.
The film sees Michæl Caine as the eponymous Harry, who is shocked when an old friend of his — fellow pensioner, Leonard Attwell, played by David Bradley — is stabbed to death by a gang of youths, who infest a local underpass.
One I should add, acts as an unusable shortcut to the hospital where Harry’s wife is dying.
You can practically see the inevitable vigilante movie, happening, can’t you … ?
Don’t get the idea that Harry Brown is a Deathwish style blood-fest, although it isn’t exactly a family friendly bed of roses.
But it is a beautifully performed, written and directed piece: one that I felt does ask us exactly what lengths we’ll go to if pushed by events that could overwhelm us.
Which makes Harry Brown very recommended!
