The Book of Clarence - Check Out Latest Film Review

 Jeymes Samuel's religious epic, "The Book of Clarence," is a visually appealing film that unfortunately fails to maintain a coherent storyline. Centered around the character of Clarence, a street hustler in A.D. 33 Jerusalem, Samuel's screenplay attempts to forcefully incorporate political relevance into a farcical exploitation film, mistakenly assuming that every Black film must carry significant weight. As seen in Samuel's first directorial venture, "The Harder They Fall," the filmmaker possesses a precise vision, but there exists a delicate balance between subverting the genre and making it incomprehensible.

Clarence, the protagonist of "The Book of Clarence," is an intriguing character who challenges the traditional religious narrative. Despite his twin brother Thomas being one of Jesus' apostles, Clarence himself is a cynical atheist. In addition to his disbelief in religion, Clarence is involved in the drug trade, both selling and consuming large quantities of marijuana. His world is filled with club dens, where nearly nude women sensually gyrate and shady characters lurk in the shadows. "The Book of Clarence" presents a unique perspective on spirituality and explores the complexities of Clarence's unconventional lifestyle. Check latest Hollywood Films online only on Flixtor without any charges.

Clarence, unfortunately, lacks intelligence in Jerusalem. Let's examine the film's opening scene: In order to earn some extra money, Clarence decides to borrow money from a notorious gangster named Jedediah the Terrible for a chariot race against Mary Magdalene. It's unclear why Clarence believes this is a safe or profitable opportunity, especially considering the risks involved. 

However, the contest between Clarence and Mary, which is shot on location, is surprisingly immersive and refreshingly practical. The scene, heavily influenced by "Ben Hur," showcases their chariots being pulled by real horses as they thunder down the streets of the old world with precision. Rob Hardy's cinematography in this sequence is so vivid that, with the help of point of view shots from within the carriage, you can actually feel the rumbling of the wheels.

Clarence and his closest companion Elijah, naturally, suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of Mary. This defeat necessitates their search for a means to gather enough money to repay Jedediah. Initially, Clarence contemplates being baptized, believing that God will offer him protection. This notion is so self-centered that John the Baptist amusingly slaps him. Subsequently, Clarence decides to become an apostle, convinced that Jesus' group of influential individuals will shield him.

However, this strategy presents a few challenges: Clarence, as you may recall, is an atheist; he is also estranged from his brother Thomas, who not only abandoned their mother but is also ashamed of Clarence's presence; furthermore, when given the opportunity, Clarence fails to complete the task assigned by the other disciples, managing to free only one gladiatorial slave.

The film's misplaced humor makes these failed hustles feel even more laborious. It becomes even more cringe-worthy when Clarence decides to pose as a new messiah in order to get rich quick. Surprisingly, this revelation happens halfway through the film, with an actual lightbulb appearing over Clarence's head. At this point, you start questioning who the target audience for this movie really is. Clarence doesn't believe in the immaculate conception or Jesus performing miracles; he believes Jesus gained fame through elaborate tricks.

The film tries to balance between mocking Christianity and taking Clarence on a journey of self-discovery. However, the more it leans towards one, the more the other suffers, resulting in painfully unfunny jokes that rarely elicit more than a slight chuckle.