Comedic movies are a hard genre for me. It's hard to make me laugh, so I find most comedies just stupid. There've been some surprising exceptions. I loved Bullet Train (I've seen it three times) and laughed throughout it each time I saw it. I loved the combination of comedy and action. As for a TV series that is comedic, hands down, Abbott Elementary. The episodes are often a highlight of my night.
Although comedy isn't my thing, I was looking forward to seeing The Book of Clarence. The all-star cast includes: LaKeith Stanfield, Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James McAvoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
This film is written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, who is a British singer-songwriter, music producer, and filmmaker. His directorial debut was Harder They Fall on Netflix. Producers include Jeymes Samuel, Jay Z, James Lassiter, and Tendo Nagenda.
Although this film is classified as an Adventure/Western, I would also describe it as a Comedy. It was hysterically funny—it had us laughing so hard that we sometimes missed the next line that was spoken! My daughter said that's why she likes watching everything with subtitles! Or, in other words, “She hears with her eyes.” Whatever that means...
So, let's get into it.
The movie opens with an introduction by Jeymes Samuel. He tells us this film was 2000 years in the making. He tells us he wanted to make a film that was as epic as the likes of Ben-Hur. Let me tell you, he did not miss!
Filmmakers strive to create movie sets that set the tone and atmosphere to grip the audience, and this filmmaker does just that. The story takes place in ancient Jerusalem. The scenery in this movie was remarkable; it felt like we were actually watching footage from that time period. Not only was the movie set great, but the costuming was just as I'd imagined the people from that time would dress—it was on point.
The film’s story is broken down into three parts, or "Books," as you will. Ok, I've revealed more than I wanted to, so I will not tell you the names of those "Books". The only other “spoiler” I’ll give is that the Romans were Romans. They were every bit of what you’d imagine Romans or any oppressors to be like.
What's more, LaKeith Stanfield is outstanding in this film. I loved his roles. Have we ever seen David Oyelowo in a comedy? Nothing comes to mind if he has. He is absolutely hilarious in this film. You just have to see Benedict Cumberbatch in this film. The audience was roaring with laughter.
Beware; there is some debauchery shown in this film. I'm not trying to preach here, but there's scripture in The Bible that speaks of debauchery. Jeymes Samuel literally gives us a glimpse of what that may have looked like. It made me think, yes, stuff like this HAD to be happening during this time period.
Moreover, I found this story to be relatable. Would you agree that sometimes it takes a minute to figure out who you are? What you stand for? What you want to do in life? What you want to accomplish in life? What you want your life to look like? Clarence was undoubtedly trying to figure it all out.
Amongst all the hilarity, there are some life lessons. It shows us what teamwork looks like (whether it’s for good intentions or not), that family dynamics can be far from perfect, how deceitfulness affects all those around us, what redemption is, and lastly, what it looks like to be forgiven—and not necessarily in the Biblical sense either.
It is important to add that some in the Christian community will have a problem with the film. Some may think it's sacrilegious; others may think it's blasphemous. Just remember: it's not a retelling of The Bible; it's just an artistic rendering of how someone named Clarence may have lived at that time.
Not to mention, there are lots of artistic freedoms taken to describe this time period. Remember, it's meant to entertain. Not to tell a true Bible story. There are also all kinds of miracles flying around in this film, so be prepared.
Furthermore, some may have a problem with a mostly Black cast. There are many debates about what the people during this time looked like. I’m pretty sure they didn’t look like Charleston Heston either… but I'm not going to get into all that. Altogether, just enjoy the movie for what it is: a funny movie set in ancient Jerusalem with a modern twist to it.
Lastly, as to the question of whether you should take your children to see this movie, I would say this: “Hell to the no." In all seriousness, just because adults find a movie funny doesn’t mean kids will, or that the humor is appropriate for them. If you have a teenager who is mature enough to view this, then by all means take them. Personally, I would not have taken my children to see this movie at any age. That's the type of parent I was. I felt they would be exposed to the world soon enough, so it was imperative I protected their childlike innocence. Don’t we all long for that inner child often? This film is rated PG-13 for strong violence, drug use, strong language, some suggestive material, and smoking.
This tall tale most assuredly deserves some awards when award season comes around next year; hopefully it won't get lost in the shuffle. It’s a long time from now until the end of the year. I'd love to know if you feel the same way.
Let me know what you think about this review and/or the movie when you see it. I myself can't wait to see it again!
I give it 5/5 "Charms."
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
“I'm rooting for everybody black.”
Just a Mom Who Loves Movies
No comments:
Post a Comment