Movie Review

The Book of Clarence flips the script on biblical adaptations

Making movies about stories from the Bible goes back to the beginning of film itself, with some the earliest ones coming out in 1902 and 1903. Some are reverential to the text, while others use the familiarity of it as a jumping off point for a different kind of story. The Book of Clarenceis combination of the two, a wildly ambitious movie that tackles the Bible in a way rarely seen before.

Photo by Moris Puccio

LaKeith Stanfield in The Book of Clarence.

Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), living in the time of Jesus (Nicholas Pinnock) in 33 A.D., considers himself to be a nobody, living a life that involves little more than selling “lingon weed” with his best friend, Elijah (RJ Cyler) and misguided attempts at trying to win chariot races. A loss in one race runs him afoul of local heavy Jedediah (Eric Kofi-Abrefa), with Clarence having 30 days to repay Jedediah for backing him in the race.

Partially as a way to make money quickly, and partially because of jealousy over Jesus’ status as the Messiah, Clarence pretends to be a messiah himself, using trickery to convince people he can rise the dead, walk on water, and more. But his ruses start to gather the attention of the Roman authorities, led by Pontius Pilate (James McAvoy), and he soon finds that being a somebody may be more than he wanted.

Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, the film defies categorization. On one hand, it flips the script on the typical Bible adaptation, using a primarily Black cast, pointed allusions to modern-day society, and a hip-hop heavy soundtrack. On the other, Samuel clearly wants to remain faithful to the spirit, if not the letter, of the Bible, as much of the film is taken directly from the Gospels, with tweaks to fit the story he’s telling.

While the film does dip a toe into comedy on occasion, it is striking how straightforward and dramatic it is as a whole. Clarence and Elijah may be stoners of a type, but even they can’t help but be swept up in the religious fervor surrounding Jesus. Samuel also includes scenes that echo the racism and abuse of authority experienced by Black people in the 21st century, adding to the overall serious nature of the film.

Filming in Matera, Italy, Samuel and his team make great use of seemingly ancient architecture and the unique layout of the city. This especially comes into play during the opening chariot race and other action scenes, which give a different dimension to the type of story being told. The production design as a whole is impressive given that they were likely working with a relatively small budget compared to other studio films.

Stanfield has been an actor to watch since his debut in Short Term 12 in 2013, and he brings a quiet strength to the film that elevates his part. He’s supported by a variety of equally strong actors, including Alfre Woodard, Marianne-Jean Baptiste, David Oyelowo, Omar Sy, Pinnock, and more. The film’s two prominent white actors – McAvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch – fulfill their roles without overshadowing any of the main Black actors.

It’ll be interesting to see how The Book of Clarence is received, as it seems to fall somewhere in the middle between religious and mainstream entertainment. In Samuel’s two feature films – he also directed The Harder They Fall in 2021 – he has shown a penchant toward upending genre expectations, with intriguing results both times.

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The Book of Clarence opens in theaters on January 11.

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This week's hot headlines

Michelin Guide awards shine in 5 most-read Dallas stories of the week

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Editor's note: Restaurants that received Michelin Guide honors were the hottest topic of the week in Dallas and all across Texas. Also of note: The death of a beloved Dallas restaurateur, a new wing joint, and more. Here are the most-read stories of the week. Looking for things to do this weekend? That list is here.

1. More than a dozen Dallas restaurants earn Michelin Guide awards. The winners of the first Michelin Guide awards in Texas have been revealed, with 117 restaurants earning some kind of nod, including 15 one-star establishments. More than two dozen restaurants across Dallas-Fort Worth earned some kind of nod or another, but only one won a star. Then, oops, there was a goof on Michelin's list.

2. Reducetarian Summit had to be unlikeliest convention in Dallas ever. Dallas likes to promote itself as a great place to host conventions, but one of the most unpredictable would have to be the Reducetarian Summit, which took place at the end of October at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas, where 500 people from around the world met to brainstorm on ways to reduce consumption of animal products.

3. Where to eat in Dallas right now: 10 hot new restaurants for November. This month's installment of Where to Eat is bursting at the seams with newcomers and spinoffs. For November, we've got a vast range of cuisines, from Asian to seafood to the beloved Dallas staple, the Irish pub. To find many cuisines in one spot, there's also a new food-hall near downtown Dallas.

Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, RIP. Facebook

4. Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat dies at 69 after ALS battle. Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, founder of the acclaimed local steakhouse Al Biernat's, passed away on November 13, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease; he was 69.

5. Pluckers Wing Bar opens first Dallas location in a decade in Mesquite. A Texas wing staple is bringing the wings to Mesquite: Pluckers, famous for its wings in many flavors, is opening at 1340 N. Peachtree Rd., in the old Joe’s Crab Shack space. According a marketing spokesperson, it's opening in mid-December.