The Book of Clarence: A Biblical Comedy That Soars

The Delightful Tale of Clarence

The Book of Clarence is the first great film of 2024. Jeymes Samuel’s follow-up to The Harder They Fall proves he is a writer-director on a different level. Every choice is a delight, and the result is a biblical comedy that soars. The modern touches make for a refreshing tone, while everything from the central tale to the music, dialogue, and set design are gloriously arranged.

LaKeith Stanfield points at James McAvoy in The Book of Clarence

Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is down on his luck and owes a lot of money to some very dangerous people. He resents his twin brother for abandoning him and his mother to follow Jesus Christ. Clarence gets frustrated with his life and jealous of Jesus’ reputation, so he hatches a plan. Along with his merry band of misfits (RJ Cyler and Omar Sy), he begins faking miracles and collecting money from those who believe him a messiah. As the Romans get wind of this, money becomes the least of Clarence’s problems.

anna diop & lakeith stanfield standing close together in the book of clarence

Clarence has a lot of ambitions, but the film also tackles his growing understanding of faith. In fact, The Book of Clarence's true stroke of genius is its take on religion. The film never shies away from bold and exciting concepts or confrontations with Christianity as it is. Clarence himself is truly an avatar for the audience, as he represents believers and nonbelievers. A weed dealer with a heart of gold, Clarence never comes off as anything other than human. The script wisely positions him in a place where he can come to understand everyone's feelings, and Stanfield brilliantly and effortlessly accesses these emotions.

rj cyler & lakeith stanfield laughing in the book of clarence

If you’ve ever watched 20 minutes of a movie and realized it's about Christianity, you might feel a bit betrayed by the film's setup. Conversely, films that are blatantly about religion tend to focus on hyper-serious subject matter, or they simply have a high barrier of entry. The Book of Clarence couldn't care less about any of that. It is unapologetic about what it's trying to be and no one who's seen the trailer and likes it will be disappointed by the film.

LaKeith Stanfield gazes into the distance in The Book of Clarence

The Music and Dialogue

If we have learned anything from Samuel’s last work, it's that music plays a huge part in elevating the material. Gospel is seamlessly woven into the film's score and soundtrack and every track is a banger. Aside from Jay-Z blessing us with a verse, all the songs have gospel chords and lyrics set to neo-soul, R&B, and reggae music. The score is just as enthralling; gospel choirs grace us with a glorious serenade that is epic and emotional. The music never overshadows, it only complements.

Teyonah Taylor rides a chariot in The Book of Clarence

The film perfectly blends contemporary dialogue while staying true to the period. Characters are shown rolling blunts, and it is a hysterical leap of faith by Samuels to trust we would not only accept it, but love it. It would be a disservice to say his films have a Tarantino-like energy because they're something wholly original, but it might be the closest comparison.

The Spectacular Worldbuilding

What's more, the sets and locations are nothing short of perfect. Mountains covered in green against white stone surfaces make the worldbuilding that much easier to dive into. The sincerity with which The Book of Clarence approaches its story, combined with its sheer boldness, will cement Samuel as a filmmaker who soars to unimaginable heights.