Studio Cut

Two screen baddies – Gary Oldman (“The Dark Knight”) and Ray Stevenson (“Punisher: War Zone”) – gang up on Denzel Washington in Columbia Pictures’ post-apocalyptic action-adventure “The Book of Eli.”

In the film, the most formidable of Eli’s obstacles is a man named Carnegie.  Like Eli ( Washington ), Carnegie (Oldman) is one of the few living relics from “the time before” and carries the burden of remembering how things used to be.  “There’s a line in the movie where Eli explains, ‘People kill each other now for things we used to throw away,’ and he’s talking about basic things like soap or matches, that are now rare and valuable commodities,” reveals director Albert Hughes.

Unlike Eli, Carnegie has devoted the past 30 years to amassing a crude empire amid the ruins of an abandoned town and his taste for power has grown.  He is accustomed to getting what he wants, and what he wants now is a book that Eli carries in his pack—a Bible, believed to be the last one on Earth.

“Carnegie is essentially a dictator,” states Oldman.  “He has built this town through violence and through control of a very valuable commodity—fresh water—because he remembers where to find it.  But he’s also smart.  He has a philosophy.  Carnegie is familiar with the book Eli carries and he’s aware of what it can achieve because it’s a part of his own history and childhood.  He’s been looking for it himself for years. These two men have the same obsession over this book, though one is coming from a good place and one from a darker place.”

Carnegie has no qualms about eliminating Eli, yet at the same time, he can’t help being intrigued by this extraordinary man who dares oppose him, unlike the uneducated thugs in his employ or the damaged souls who roam the landscape.  It’s as if he has finally found a worthy adversary and must savor the moment.  “Eli has a powerful presence.  He’s steady, resolute and composed,” adds Oldman.  “Carnegie has never seen anyone quite like him.”

Says Washington , “Eli won’t capitulate and Carnegie won’t take no for an answer.  Carnegie challenges him on every level.  It becomes a great battle of wills.”

Another person who would love to stand up to Carnegie is his right-hand man, Redridge, played by Ray Stevenson, who describes his role as “Carnegie’s enforcer and personal bodyguard, among other things.  He does as he’s told but you get the sense that he’s biding his time.  He has his own agenda.”

When Eli and Carnegie’s stepdaughter, Solara, are discovered fleeing town, Carnegie orders Redridge to execute a search-and-destroy.  It could be the break Redridge has long been waiting for.

Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Book of Eli” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.