Biblical epics are harder to find in cinemas nowadays. Classics like Ben-Hur (1959) and The Ten Commandments (1956) are theatrical landmarks. Hollywood has avoided these kinds of stories in recent years, until now. The Book of Clarence tells a different kind of biblical epic. Set in A.D. 33 Jerusalem, the story follows Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), a man down on his luck. In desperation, he comes up with one solution to solve his problems. Seeing the rise of Jesus Christ, who claims to be a new messiah, Clarence tries to become a messiah himself. For Clarence, that ambition sends him on a roller coaster.
L-R: Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), Barabbas (Omar Sy), and Elijah (R.J. Cyler) in TriStar Pictures’ THE BOOK OF CLARENCE. Photo By: Moris Puccio. © 2023 Legendary Entertainment. All rights reserved.
The fun of The Book of Clarence stems from the screenplay by Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall). Utilizing a modern dialect, the instantly engaging banter the characters are given by the writing helps ground the story in ways that make this world relatable to audiences. While all the performances are boisterous and lively, a particularly charming one is Clarence himself, LaKeith Stanfield (The Harder They Fall). While portraying a proclaimed con man, Stanfield rides a difficult line. He has to be incredibly charming but also someone who’s committing a rather despicable act.
To make his plan successful, Clarence has to have various friends and family in his corner. This includes an exceptional supporting cast: Omar Sy (Jurassic World), Anna Diop (Us), RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall), Alfre Woodard (The Gray Man), and James McAvoy (Split), to name a few. Samuel’s screenplay wisely gives each actor a moment to shine, no matter their amount of time on screen. With a cast of that size, some films would inadvertently make some actors overshadow others. Each of these moments helps the film keep up an exciting pace.
L-R: Virgin Mary (Alfre Woodard) and Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) in TriStar Pictures’ THE BOOK OF CLARENCE. Photo By: Moris Puccio. © 2023 Legendary Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Such a continuously funny tone can be hard to maintain for a 129-minute running time. As the film’s central conflict takes shape (Clarence going against the authority of Rome), the pacing starts to stutter. Granted, these moments are an ample mirror to a real biblical story. Those unfamiliar with classic bible stories might not know the familiar rhythms. In contrast, some may simply be left checking their watch in these moments. One interesting choice could make these more predictable moments work for some.
A certain highly popularized actor (who does appear in the cast listing) makes an appearance. Going into the film, I was unaware of this actor’s role, which let me reap the rewards. This cameo manages to offer a biting and hilarious piece of social commentary. This performance made the cliché’s more palatable within my viewing. It’s a risky choice that could have varying degrees of success for some viewers. Those willing to go along with it could gain some rich rewards. Granted, that performance does not take away from LaKeith Stanfield’s scene-stealing leading role.
Mary Magdalene (Teyana Taylor) in TriStar Pictures’ THE BOOK OF CLARENCE. Photo By: Moris Puccio. © 2023 Legendary Entertainment. All rights reserved.
The Book of Clarence succeeds as a new-age biblical story for modern audiences. Jeymes Samuel delivers an impressively stylistic and entertaining story. That is largely due to various modernized, fast-paced, and funny performances. This Jerusalem is a well-drawn world showcased to viewers through engaging characters. The soundtrack helps to add a dimension that makes the film feel wholly original. This process includes the themes and ideas of those classic, historically-accurate biblical epics.
Simultaneously, The Book of Clarence showcases a noticeable respect for those classics that came before. Samuels amply conveys the essence of those stories while properly modernizing them for audiences. Those touches do not always work but can be considered admirable in their ambition. Something of this scale has not been seen on the big screen in quite some time. In some cases, its ambitions can extend past the film’s grasp. Those moments could be enough to hold some back from fully embracing the story. Those willing to embrace The Book of Clarence’s more ambitious choices can have a very entertaining time.
In theaters January 12th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official Sony Pictures The Book of Clarence website.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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