The Book of Clarence

Set during the time of Jesus Christ's rise in 33 A.D. Jerusalem, The Book of Clarence is a biblical comedy starring LaKeith Stanfield as a man who, due to owing large debts, sells himself off as a messiah to earn money. Jeymes Samuel's writing and direction gives this movie a very unique approach that mixes atypical biblical storytelling from the 50s with modern sensibilities and often trippy visuals. The sudden shift between the comedy of Clarence's antics and the stark drama of him being judged and crucified can be jarring, but it's a rather bold decision. Rob Hardy's cinematography, most of the score from Samuel himself, and the production values really capture the feel of the era perfectly. The performances from everyone involved are strong, but especially Stanfield who makes Clarence's change from cynical con man to absolute believer of Jesus seem believable. If there's one negative I do have to give is that while it's only about two hours there are times when it can feel a bit slow and sluggish. Regardless of its pace, The Book of Clarence is not only entertaining but does a better job at sending messages about belief than most other movies that center around similar subjects. Over all: 92%

2024 top list so far:

1. The Book of Clarence

2. Mean Girls 2024