The Book of Eli is a “Christian” Film
The Book Of Eli Poster
A recent Wikipedia entry placed The Book of Eli right along side of The Blind Side as being a “Christian” film made by a major secular studio.
The story is about Eli (Denzel Washington), a warrior not by choice but necessity, who seeks only peace, but if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. While this graphically brutal picture might keep many away from watching it, the film has a very strong Judeo-Christian worldview.
With the book that Eli must take across country being the Bible, one member of the press asked Denzel if he anticipated significant controversy. Denzel says, “Why is it controversial?” The reporter, who seemed to have a penchant to stir things up, continued to push for a statement he could leverage.
Each of Denzel’s responses were priceless. He treated the book (The Bible) with common courtesy as if it were a normal part of our lives. To move the topic on, Denzel simply reminded the reporter that he was the only one using that word controversy. “Well, that’s a word you used three times now, so you run with that, I’ve never used that word actually, but I think that there is nothing wrong with debate, conversation, slash argument, whatever.
Imagine that, an idea, a thought, point of view.”
It became clear to everyone present that the Bible wasn’t considered controversial, but rather a source of information to help us live our day-to-day lives.
This prompted a second reporter to ask Denzel if he had drawn from any of his personal experiences during the production. Denzel says, “One day I came up with the idea of Gary’s character saying ‘pray for me.’ I mean it, that wasn’t in the original script, but it just made sense to me.”
Denzel Washington in The Book Of Eli
I suddenly felt like I was participating in a Christian film press junket. The only difference was that no one was trying to hit anyone over the head with the Bible, make trite religious comments or quote scripture. Well, except for when Denzel made a side comment without thinking – scripture flowing easily from his mouth. It was so natural that it worked and was respected by all present.
The questions I have to ask is, can a brutally violent R-rated film be Christian (Think about The Passion of the Christ)? And, can a secular company or filmmaker make a Christian film? Furthermore, are Christian films defined by its content or the person making it?
I’d love to read your comments.
CJ Powers - Guest Blogger for HOSFU
Phillip Gibb
Erik
Mike Parker
Jean-Pierre
cjpowers7
Clarice Johnson
Dave
David Martin
David Twitchell
E. J. Irish
That is quiet interesting. Now no one can really make the argument that a big production studio is not going to pick up a Christian story. And to Think that Sandra Bullock won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globe, nice.
As for the Book of Eli, I was first interested from the RED One point of view when it started to get a lot of attention during production.
So the question now is; what Christian Film is going to break Avatar’s record?
Not having seen the film, I can still say a few things. There is a difference between a Christian filmmaker and a Christian Film. There is also a difference between a Christian Film and a film with a Christian Worldview. Finally, there are stories that involve Christian themes or ideas as a device to tell a story and there are films that involve Christian themes to teach a Christian moral.
Christian films typically involve a prayer moment and a conversion moment. They typically are intended to demonstrate God’s truths and apply them to everyday life. The protagonist usually sees the error of his/her ways and turns/trusts in God to “fix” it/show them the right way. Not all would fit this category, but many would and that’s how genres are defined after all, by the characteristics of a majority of films.
Is the Book of Eli a Christian film? Like I said, I haven’t seen it, but based on the trailer I would suggest it is a film that uses Christianity to tell a story, not a story about Christianity. But, I may be wrong.
Yes – there are differences. But just as I do not work for God in my day job does not mean I can’t do His Will and Glorify Him.. The secular filmmaker who is Christian can still Glorify God in his work, even the Actor, the Screenwriter, the Producer and the Gaffer. As for Films with Christian storyline and themes made for Hollywood’s profits – did they come up with that idea from scratch?
It’s like the Matrix – you think that’s air you’re breathing, hmmm, interesting. God has a plan and may involve Tax Collectors, Donkeys, Prostitutes (Rahab), or even people who call themselves religious.
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BOOK OF ELI is a story I could have written. lol In fact, I had a germ of a similar idea years ago. Shows a writer should write it when it germinates, or someone else will.
I like Denzel’s comments. For too long the Bible and Christian themes, which have been at the foundation of our culture, have been demonized to the point that they are “controversial” subject matters–at least to liberal, atheistic reporters. Why?
Well, I think I just answered my own question.
It’s high time Christina themes cease to be treated apologetically. Bravo to Washington for his thoughtful responses.
I agree with Phillip. All things are possible with God. Of course a non-Christian Producer can produce a movie which leads people to Christ. The Lord knows the hearts… in the olden days: Hosea takes a prostitute for a wife… Joseph hiding his cup in his brother’s grain sack and then accuses him of stealing -These are bad things they did in the mind of believers- But God had a plan. Now to this debate: The Lord used Cyrus founder of the Persian empire, it doesn’t get any more secular than that. And the Lord used him to guard and liberate ‘believers’. And Daniel was his favorite.
In our time: an R-rated movie could be totally a tool to awaken a holy fire within people to want search and find the living God and His redemptive Love.
yeah!! Would be awesome to see God use a Christian Filmmaker to blow Avatar out the water. No watered down script to make the sensitive type happy or something to make the violence lusters happy but something that is so amazing that it could only come from God. Something to confound even the wise ;)
Oh, I would say that it absolutely is a Christian Movie, in the same way the book of Judges is a Christian story. Samson, Othniel and Ehud all were violent men who did God’s purpose. To me, The Book of Eli had a very Old Testament feel. The people had forgotten God, and did not have his Word in written form available to them. So God chose a man to carry his Word and preserve and protect it. In that kind of situation I think it is not ridiculous to imagine that God would not send a Prophet or a Judge to deliver his people. Definitely worth a watch.
Can a brutally violent R-rated film be Christian? I would have to suggest that those who think the answer should be ‘no’ have not read the Old Testament. Read some of the stories in the Old Testament and then ask yourself, ‘how would this be rated if it were a film?’. If we suggest that Christian movies can’t be R – rated then I’m afraid the PURE BIBLICAL MATERIAL that can be turned into film is going to be severely limited.
I would not like to suggest that we seek to Glorify Jesus through violence and temptation in film, but one just has to look at the cross. However, pray and wisdom will need to be applied every step of the way when illustrating moral issues, violence and conflict in film.
I agree with Paul completely on the idea of a Christian film being ‘R’ rated. I can’t speak of the “Book of Eli” because I haven’t seen it yet, but if you were too read some of the Old Testament stories they would definitely be an ‘R’ rating. Take the story of when Samson slaughtered the thousand Philistines with the jaw bone of a donkey (Judges 15:13-17). That would definitely be gortesque and brutal. That’s just one example. There are several battles by men called by God that would make for bloody film. The main thing we have to understand is that God called this people to do battle on the Lord’s behalf. Now I don’t know the reasoning for Denzel’s character in the “Book of Eli” so I can’t say what he’s reasons are for killing the people, but I do know that the Bible has plenty of stories that, if turned into movies, might make some Christians blush. I don’t think that gives us a reason to use violence in the name of God and I know know where the hearts of the people who made this movie are so I will not say it is or is not a Christian movie.
I saw this film on the opening weekend with a Christian friend of mine. We had a very open conversation about God and the Bible afterward while the credits were rolling.
The thing I pointed out was that this film was NOT made FOR CHRISTIANS. Unlike a lot of the Christian films that are made, they are aimed at the Christian audience. This is because a lot of the expected marketing for Christian films today revolve around the idea of showing the film in a church, or church-ran function. It’s this event that would give that church the chance to lull “sinners” out to see a film that witnesses Christ.
These flicks suffer from, first, a poorly conceptualized marketing plan since these films never can make a great impact on secular culture due to the venue.
But secondly, the films are sanitized so the ones showing the film won’t be offended.
That’s the beauty of “Eli” or “The Passion”. From inception, the target audience was NEVER CHRISTIANS! It was the masses. So they were already groomed to be able to compete with “Avatar” or “Precious”, or whatever.
Another completely different topic is the creation of ‘white’ Christian films and ‘black’ Christian films. One set that has had continuous box office success in the secular mainstream is Tyler Perry’s Madea line-ups. It seems black Christians won’t really bat an eye at certain things shown on the screen or said during these films. But white Christians are more sensitive to certain language and themes.
you are dead on!
It is interesting to note that both “Eli” and “The Blind Side” were made by Alcorn Entertainment, which is controlled by the owner of Fedex and whose daughter was the one who gave the green light to their production. Because of the success of these films, you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of them from Alcorn.
I would go out on a ledge and say there is no such thing as a Christian film. By that, I mean, Christ died for people, not films, books, bookstores, radio stations, restaurants, etc. Only people can be Christians.
Now I totally believe there is such a thing as a Church film. These are films that are made specifically for the Church. They are typically sanitized to the point of being insipid, usually present someone who is kinda bad who hears the Gospel and says the sinners prayer and gets saved. They are, in the words of a famous chain of ‘Christian’ radio stations “Safe for the Whole Family.”
Church-goers walk away believing if their unbelieving friends would just see this film they would get saved. The problem is, their unbelieving friends are not going to see that film. They would be bored to tears.
On the other hand, there are films like The Blindside, and The Book of Eli, and The Passion of the Christ, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose that delve a little deeper into the human condition. They may be raw and violent. They may scary and haunting. They may even be coarse and profane. And they inspire genuine conversation about God, sin, redemption and damnation.
That doesn’t make them Christian. They probably shouldn’t be shown in church. You probably shouldn’t take your 10 year old daughter along. But I know which film I would rather see.
Just my thoughts.
Mike, I’m sure the majority of Christian filmmakers would LOVE to make movies that “delve a little deeper into the human condition”, like the ones you mentioned. But from a practical standpoint, those movies require A-list actors, multi-million dollar budgets, and major studio backing, which most of us lack. So until we reach that level of success, we’re forced to do what most low-budget, independent filmmakers do, which is niche filmmaking. That means targeting the specific demographic that will guarantee a low-budget, straight-to-DVD film makes its money back. If a filmmaker doesn’t do this, then his filmmaking career comes to an abrupt end, period. Hopefully, some of us will gain enough success from these micro-budget films so that we can eventually get the financial backing to make original films targeted at the mass market, such as “Eli” and “Blindside”.
Don’t forget, James Cameron didn’t start out with “Avatar’, but with a little film called “Piranha 2″. When we are faithful in small things, God will bless us with bigger projects.
Erik;
No argument with you there. I totally understand the constraints of producing low/no budget films. And I understand the need to tight focus a film of a specific target audience. And there is absolutely a need for quality (emphasis ‘quality’) films for the church/family market. VeggieTales is great stuff.
Here’s my beef – if you don’t have the budget to make an apocalyptic shoot ‘em up, and you know from the beginning that you don’t have the budget to do it justice, then don’t make a lousy film with substandard special effects, stilted acting, hackneyed dialogue and wooden directing, and then excuse it with, ‘well, we didn’t have the mega budget of Book of Eli, but we’re doing this for the glory of God so Christians should come out and support our film.’
Instead, write a compelling story about characters of faith who are forced to live out their faith. Let them fall and get back up again. Or fall and not get back up again cautionary tales about people who lose their faith can be just as compelling as those who find it). But make me love them, or hate them, but make me care about them. Don’t bore me.
Yeah, it’s hard to do. I spent a half-hour last week arguing with my co-writers on a screenplay that is specifically targeting the church/Christian market about whether we could get away with having a character say, ‘That sucks.’ (I lost, by the way.)
Just my thoughts.
Good thoughts, Mike! I couldn’t agree with you more. Re your screenplay: one of the main problems in bringing realistic content and dialogue to the Christian market is the Dove Foundation, which red-flags anything they deem unfit for Christian consumption. Apparently they live in a protective bubble of their own making and and have never dared to venture out into the real world. I couldn’t believe some of the stuff they panicked over in a script of mine based on a 70’s civil rights era story.
Eli is a Christian film. The violence is stylized and shot in dark tones. However, the sticking point to me is the cursing. I would love for filmmakers to film scenes that contain language, nudity etc be shot twice, so that a “clean version” can be shown to a wider audience. My guess is that this wider audience will show Producers that “G” and “PG” sells tickets big time.
David, R-rated movies such as “Eli” already shoot such scenes twice, but only for later TV broadcasts… it’s called a “TV-safe” version.
I saw the “The Book of Eli” and it recharged my faith to watch the main charecter have so much faith in God to guide him and to keep him safe. One of Denzel’s lines was “I walk by faith not by sight” soo cool haha.
I just saw The Book Of Eli because I was curious to see what it was all about. (I am a Christian and wasn’t aware what the movie was about). After seeing the movie it truly is set after the Rapture around when the 3rd seal was broken. If you read your Bible, you will see the hints and piece it all together. But the way God can work through this film geared toward non Christians just warms my heart. Just like in the film when it gets near the end & they throw a little twist about Denzel’s character (mind blowing & makes you wonder). I LOVE this movie.
(I am also 18) :]
I did not know this movie was about the Bible. The information on the theater’s website didn’t mention it. So it was a pleasant surprise to see the movie and so well done. I felt like cheering at the end. I was struck by the silence in the theater instead. I wondered what people were thinking. Where they thinking they need to read the Bible? Were they thinking ‘this movie sucks’? Did they think it was ‘just another Christian movie?’ I don’t know. But people were pretty quiet in there after it was finished.
Denzel should get an Oscar for his excellent performance. His defending the Book both in and outside of the film…well he was raised in the faith, so he was raised with a healthy respect for the Bible…I think he was the best choice for the movie.
The way it ended…wonder if they’d make a sequel with the girl and her mother…should be interesting.