Rent The Book of Clarence on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Jeymes Samuel
Directed by: Jeymes Samuel
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Caleb McLaughlin, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Struggling to find a better life, Clarence is captivated by the power of the rising Messiah and soon risks everything to carve a path to a divine existence.
Verdict
I like this, though you need to know the source material to really appreciate it. This is an intriguing take on religion, the Messiah, and enlightenment. Clarence sees religion as a dodge or hustle, drawing parallels to people using it for that today. While religion makes him rich, he discovers an amazing power in religion that causes him to reconsider how how he's using it. History is written by the winners, and you could see someone like Clarence being present around the edges of these events and getting written out.
Watch It.
Review
The first scene shows many men crucified on a hill. I assume the front one is Jesus, but Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is also on a cross. Set during biblical times, this movie is the Book of Clarence, the unknown thirteenth apostle.
We first see Clarence in a chariot race with Elijah (RJ Cyler), trying to win money to pay back a debt. He wants to make his mark and make some money while he's at it. He hopes a baptism by John the Baptist will curry favor with his debt holder, but John realizes Clarence is insincere and swiftly rebukes him.
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| LaKeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler play Clarence, Elijah |
Clarence doesn't believe in a messiah, he just needs an advantage. How far will a desperate man go? He tries to become an apostle, but they tell him he has to do something impressive. While they dismiss him, he decides to free the slave gladiators.
To be satire, the production design is impressive. This manages to be epic and Clarence's gladiator fight is entertaining. The movie knows the source material and does a brilliant job of adapting it to this story. Clarence is a modern stand-in, questioning religion. He does his research on Jesus, wanting to copy his tricks. Clarence is a skeptic, but if Jesus gives him an advantage he's going to use it. Clarence keeps asking how Jesus does his tricks, and everyone tells him it's not a trick. Despite this, Clarence forges forward with his plan, using his friends as plants to perform 'miracles.' Clarence really feels like an early televangelist, using tricks to solicit money and his ruses work well.
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| LaKeith Stanfield plays Clarence |
Clarence's problem is that he begins to feel guilty. I began to wonder if this presents the tales of Jesus and Clarence all attributed to Jesus. While Jesus certainly has more power, Clarence is the one working the crowds. This posits a world, where the story of Jesus might be more complicated than we know. It certainly seems likely there were people hoping to cash in on the miracles of Jesus.
Clarence has an epiphany towards the end. You could see his change of heart coming. I like this. I have to wonder if this is writer/director Jeymes Samuel putting his thoughts and questions into writing, looking for answers. What is the story of Jesus? This wonders about the side characters that might have been there, the ones who saw an opportunity. By looking to hustle and learn the tricks, Clarence stepped right into the middle of it but at the same time became a believer. Sometimes you have to stumble to find the truth.
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