A lot of people died by crucifixion. Not just Jesus Christ. Scores. Thousands. And almost every.single.one at the hands of the Romans. I’m no historian, but I know that much. And like Life of Brian before it, The Book of Clarence explores the fictional life of one whom the Romans crucified at the same time as good ol’ J.C. A “cross brother” if you will.
Before I tell you what this film did do, I’m going to tell you what it didn’t do: It didn’t blame anybody but the Romans for crucifixion. None of this silly blaming “The Jews” for anything nonsense. It didn’t make Jesus Christ white. In fact, the film -through a fairly subversive tongue-in-cheek role by Benedict Cumberbatch– explored why Jesus Christ is often mistaken for white. In fact, none of the apostles are white. Good. Why should they be? And it didn’t play the sermon game where a day at church is poorly disguised as a trip to the movies. I found all of this refreshing.
I would describe today’s film as New Testament fan fiction. The story is about Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), an ordinary if charismatic non-believer hanging out in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. Clarence is the identical younger twin of Thomas, a disciple of Jesus. Despite physical appearances, Thomas and Clarence couldn’t be more different. Thomas is a devout believer. Clarence is both grifter and drifter. Clarence and his buddy Elijah (RJ Cuyler) lose a chariot race (because of those damn gypsies!) at the start of the film getting the two in deeper debt to Jedediah the Terrible.
So five minutes in and likeable slacker Clarence has thirty days to live unless he can come up with a sackle of shekels. Being a grifter, Clarence notices what a racket Jesus makes in the messiah biz … so first he tries to opt in as apostle #13. To that, he’s met with the Father Guido Sarducci fate of lack of miracles. Thomas prompts Clarence to go free the gladiator slaves. I will not give away the surprises to be found in this subplot.
Afterwards, Clarence decides not to beat around the bush and simply adopt his own messiah gig. Hey, maybe he could open for Jesus, amIright? “Ah, you’ve been a great set of followers … I’ll be here opening all week … golden rule and all … tip your waiter … and -NOW- the you-know-who-Jew himself … Jesus H. Chriiiiiiiiist!!!”
Truthfully, I haven’t enjoyed a Godsquad film since Calvary. Godsquad films are preachy; that’s kind of their
thing. The Book of Clarence is no exception. We get the stoning of Mary Magdalene (Teyana Taylor). We get lectured by Virgin Mary (Alfre Woodard). But The Book of Clarence doesn’t feel preachy, necessarily; it feels like, dare I say, a film. We know the fate of Jesus, but the fate of Clarence is no foregone conclusion.
We live in an era of toxic Christianity. Christianity itself remains the dominant “ism” in the Western Hemisphere, and yet, to hear some Christians tell it (especially those with large megaphones), American Christians are a persecuted minority. The results are hideous. The worst reaction is, of course, the championing of Donald Trump, a man who defies the teachings of Jesus Christ with, pretty much, every.single.action he takes. But one of the lesser toxic side-effects is Christian art, which has been promoted in the form of disingenuous pandering on movie screens.
I have been turned off by the whole Christian cinema movement; faith-based themes are generally poor entertainment. But it’s always nice to be wrong and The Book of Clarence is a healthy exception to the rule. This is a film which shows Christians can indeed make a film without making pure propaganda and some -a select few- can tell their truth without creating, and then demonizing, an opposition.
There once was a grifter named Clarence
Whose countenance lacked not for transparence
Indulging this behavior
He tried to play savior
To his shock, the transformation showed aberrance
Rated PG-13, 129 Minutes
Director: Jeymes Samuel
Writer: Jeymes Samuel
Genre: Not The Greatest Story Ever Told
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Godsquaders open to the idea of black Jesus
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: I imagine the same religious nuts who pull for Trump will find this blasphemy
