Jeymes Samuel’s satire of biblical proportions.
“The Book of Clarence” seems to be such a fan of “Hamilton” and “Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” that it decides to combine them together for a biblical satire. Meaning it can feature a number of African-American characters and a few white characters in Jerusalem, and it can also use Clarence as a man who lives in the same area as Jesus Christ.
You could say: “Brothers, always look on the bright side of life.” Whistle. Whistle. Whistle. Whistle. “Brothers always look on light side of life.” Whistle. Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
It also chooses to be PG-13, so it doesn’t take the gruesome “Passion of the Christ” approach. Yes, we do see the infamous crucifixion scene, but the nail in the hand shot is off camera, and people do get badly injured, but not gruesomely. But that doesn’t mean “The Book of Clarence” can’t be fresh entertainment. It is fresh entertainment, especially since it was made by Jeymes Samuel, who also gave us the stylish western “The Harder They Fall.”
The movie stars Lakeith Stanfield as Clarence, a down-on-his-luck man, who owes money to Jedediah the Terrible (Eric Kofi-Abrefa) after a race gone wrong. If he doesn’t give him the money, then he won’t see the light of day again. The only reason he doesn’t run away from Jerusalem is because he’s in love with Jedediah’s sister (Anna Diop).
He decides to become the Thirteenth Apostle, much to the disapproval of his Apostle twin brother Thomas (also Stanfield). These two have already begun an estranged relationship, ever since Thomas left home.
Then, he decides to become the new Messiah in a last attempt to get himself out of his debt with Jedediah.
He has his best friends Elijah (RJ Cyler) and Zeke (Caleb McLaughlin), and the strong slave he freed Barabbas (Omar Sy) playing his followers. Meaning they can pretend to be blind, injured, or even dead, and Clarence can “miraculously” heal them. The crowds give them their coins out of joy, and it all goes to Clarence’s survival fund. And to keep his secret secure, Clarence says “The Lord can only do one miracle a day.”
Of course, a biblical story adjacent to the true story is not without his enemies. Here in the form of Pontius Pilate (James McAvoy) who must crucify Clarence.
On the side, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a street beggar named Benjamin, who is covered in so much filth that he almost looks like a minstrel character. And when he finally gets his long, overdue bath, he looks oddly familiar.
And you also have Alfre Woodard as Jesus’s mother Mary, David Oyelowo as John the Baptist, Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Clarence’s mother, and Nicholas Pinnock as Jesus himself.
“The Book of Clarence” is entertaining for anyone who may or may not be religious. I’m not all that religious, although I believe in God and did my best to make sure my crucifix doesn’t flip me off. But what really distinguishes this movie is the way it balances the comedy and pathos without them overlapping one another. It partly plays like a hustle movie, but unlike let’s say “Pain Hustlers,” it isn’t mean-spirited and knows the right ambition.
Stanfield is in a fearless dual role, and both his characters have their convictions and sins they must overcome. And Woodard delivers in a small, but affective supporting role as Mother Mary, while Sy has the built as Barabbas. Samuel doesn’t give every character their due, but he does allow the actors to merge with the comedy and drama. It knows how to be a religious satire without holding itself back so much.
