Director: Jeymes Samuel

Story By: Jeymes Samuel

Cast: LaKeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Omar Cy, Anna Diop, Alfre Woodard, Caleb McLaughlin, Eric Kofi Abrefa, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Nicholas Pinnock

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A grinding/hustling Black man in Lower City Jerusalem decides to parade around as The Messiah to make money when he finds himself in a financial bind that could cost him his life. This is The Book of Clarence. 

The moment I saw the trailer & Jeymes Samuel’s name, I was already hooked. I feel in love with Samuel’s storytelling and directing style with his Netflix film The Harder They Fall, and I truly believe he is someone to watch. He’s like the Black Tarantino mixed with a modern day Spike Lee. 

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Theme & Story: A

Pacing: A-

Character: A

Overall “Paper” Score: A

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Entertainment Factors

General Public: Interesting Enough

Jeymes Samuel Fans: Worth the $$$

Bible Storytelling Fans: Interesting Enough

Experience Seekers (creative vision on the Bible): Interesting Enough

Overall “Viewing Experience” Score: Interesting Enough

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TAKEAWAYS:

**For 2024, I’m continuing to go back to how I used to “review” films by just giving some takeaway moments from my viewing experience. At the very bottom of the my takeaways is my analysis, which includes spoilers. 

1. First off, LaKeith! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

2. That “club” dance scene! 🙌🏾

3. I was a little annoyed with the looseness of the accents. I would’ve just preferred they all speak naturally. 🤷🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

4. The carrying of the cross scene… 🫢👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾my goodness. This was the moment that truly made me appreciate LaKeith so much more as the lead than I already did in this film. 🤎

5. Chile, that White Jesus moment! 🤣🤣🤣

6. Samuels had some really engaging camera work. The Last Supper scene was so good, along with the crucifixion scene. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

7. I really love that … is a regular actor in Samuels’ films. I truly enjoyed him as the supporting character. 🫶🏾🫶🏾

8. The tackling display of modern day racism/racial tension and police in the context of the story/setting. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

9. LUPIN! 😩🫶🏾🫶🏾

10. Not the self pleasure while mom is around. Did she really put him on blast like that!? 😳😅

BONUS 11. The soundtrack was so good and well curated for the creative direction of the film.

BONUS 12. The visit to see Mary. 🤣

BONUS 13. I am a little on the fence with some of the emotional drama scenes. The mixing of sentimental and humor wasn’t always the best co-existing formula.  😬

** ** **

Overall #TheBookOfClarence gives Friday – meets Passion of the Christ – meets Atlanta – meets Black Jesus – meets Judas and the Black Messiah

I fell in love with Jeymes Samuel and his style of storytelling after his Netflix film The Harder They Fall, and he didn’t disappoint. I’m not going to lie, I was a little concerned during the first 1/3 of the first Act, but the film picked up both quickly and well, and the charm and creativity that made me fall in love with Samuel’s filmmaking started to unfold. Additionally, I think shout outs should also be given to Dixie Chassay and Victoria Thomas who were in charge of casting. The right people were chosen to lead audiences on this journey of entertainment and story—especially LaKeith.  

***STOP! Grade Justifications below with spoilers!***

Why the A for theme and story?

For me, I watched a film that tackled themes of purpose/fulfillment and truth/understanding. Whether it was looking at the ways we as people often find truth when seeking purpose/trying to be fulfilled in our existence, or seeing that real understanding about the world around us is best revealed when as we seek purpose or paths of fulfillment. Regardless of the thematic direction taken, and yes the foundation of the Bible does help, the film and story does a great job in its execution.  

From the very beginning, the story shows a character being beat down by life choices, and on the tail end of popularity and existence by both the comparison to, and statement from his brother who just so happens to be one of Jesus’ apostles. This kicks off the main character’s quest for proving his brother wrong, and actually being something more than what he is perceived to be. 

Throughout the second Act, the story shifts to our main character identifying 2 different paths to feel more purposeful, and taking off in the direction of the one he has more control over which unexpectedly begins to impact his character’s understanding of the very thing he was using as a scheme to get to a point of feeling more purposeful. 

In the third Act, our main character is at a glitching point between truth and understanding vs his original intentions before events tips him 100% over into a space of truth while also recognizing that his actions have had a positive impact on everyone around him, THUS making him feel purposeful / fulfilled—even his brother witnesses the turn of events. 

I mean, what more do you want in terms of clarity? 

Why the A- for pacing?

Pacing doesn’t really pick up until the second half of Act One onward. The beginning definitely feels like the film was trying to find its artistic and creative rhythm. There were visual decisions that didn’t seem necessary, some of the dialogue felt a little airy, and the different, early pieces of various story components felt a little random/ messy-mundane such as the opening race, the lying on rug at home with his mother, the cause for the tension between him and his brother, and the introduction of the love story. 

But once all of those pieces were able to finally meet and meld, the film and story started to move in a much clearer and engaging pace. 

Why the A for character?

LaKeith’s character, as unpacked in my response to the theme and story, was a solidly written vessel for the theme when focusing on purpose/fulfillment and truth/understanding, but other characters were also important to either fueling the way the theme came across via LaKieth’s character, OR experiencing the same shifts with the theme as LaKeith’s character was experiencing. 

RJ’s character was pretty much a true sidekick like Clarence—very ride or die, and super unserious. Whatever Clarence said, Elijah supported and followed through with 100%. By his actions, he felt more purposeful when he was able to be a support to Clarence, and both shared similar views/ideas that needed more understanding / lacked truth. Then RJ’s character has his moment of understanding and truth, and is seen in later scenes continuing to be that support to Clarence, but now from the standpoint of a true believer as Clarence’s character begins to develop as a believer and vessel himself. 

Omar Sy’s character becomes a supporter and protector of LaKeith’s character as he finds purpose and understanding, which also becomes a form of strength for LaKieth’s character in Act Three. Additionally, once Omar Sy’s character is given freedom to make his own decisions, he also is on a quest of finding purpose / fulfillment which is finds in supporting Clarence.