Somewhere between the sacred and profane, comedy, drama and satire comes 害羞草研究所淭he Book of Clarence,害羞草研究所� a retelling of The Greatest Story Ever Told that arrives in theaters appropriately between Christmas and Easter.

It害羞草研究所檚 a remarkably idiosyncratic approach by , who for this Biblical-era tale is director, producer, writer and composer for only his second feature. You have to kind of hand it to him: Who else would have the audacity to tackle Jesus in your second outing?

害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� with a stunning cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, James McAvoy, Anna Diop, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfre Woodard and David Oyelowo 害羞草研究所� careens through tones and sentiment, silly in one and then horrific in another. Samuel says he wants viewers to have a 害羞草研究所渨icked good time害羞草研究所� but really it害羞草研究所檚 a bit of a muddled, unholy mess.

It is 33 AD in Jerusalem and Stanfield plays Clarence, a street hustler in robes who likes getting high 害羞草研究所� in one cool, surreal scene he floats into the air like a balloon 害羞草研究所� and dreams up schemes to get rich quick. He害羞草研究所檚 got the hots for a local beauty but owes a ton of coins to that beauty害羞草研究所檚 loansharking brother.

Clarence is called the 害羞草研究所渧illage害羞草研究所檚 mischief maker害羞草研究所� and even his mother thinks he needs to get his act together. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not a nobody,害羞草研究所� he tells his twin brother, Thomas (also Stanfield, naturally). 害羞草研究所淎 man who lacks honor is a nobody,害羞草研究所� his brother replies. We know things are going to end painfully for Clarence because one of the first images in the movie is of him on a cross.

Clarence doesn害羞草研究所檛 believe in God and certainly doesn害羞草研究所檛 believe that the local guy named Jesus is capable of miracles. It害羞草研究所檚 a scam to him. He tries to become a 13th apostle to pay off his debts. When that fails he decides to pretend to be a messiah, too, and get paid for so-called tricks.

Samuel, whose previous movie was the all-Black Western has some creative ideas, like using a chariot race to honor both 害羞草研究所淏en Hur害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淔ast & Furious,害羞草研究所� as well as wonderfully capturing the Last Supper like a painting come alive. He apes biblical epics in his title fonts and the opening and closing of the camera害羞草研究所檚 iris. He mixes stilted language 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚 must make haste害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� with modern turns (害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e got the cobblestones on lock.害羞草研究所�) This is the first Biblical epic to uses the term 害羞草研究所渄umbass.害羞草研究所�

But Samuel never stays with any idea for long and 害羞草研究所淭he Book of Clarence害羞草研究所� lacks cohesion, as well as consistency, even if the acting is superb, especially from a soulful Stanfield. Is Samuel honoring sword-and-sandal epics? Updating them? Mocking them? Looking at the Jesus story through a Black lens is immensely rewarding but the pay-off is poor.

There are plenty of messiahs here 害羞草研究所� like Spider-Mans in the multiverse 害羞草研究所� but it is not clear what the filmmaker wants to say with them. A critique of celebrity? A message about entertainment? That faith comes even to those who have none? That we kill all our saviors? It害羞草研究所檚 not even clear if this is a pro- or anti-religious movie.

Samuel comments powerfully on us today when white Roman police stop-and-frisk Black Jerusalem residents, but then wastes such a great potential vein to mine with a swanky dance party and cool choreographed moves. He makes us shudder as nails are pounded into Clarence害羞草研究所檚 flesh, yet also includes humor at the crucifixion 害羞草研究所� from the actual guys doing the dying. He has a scene with brutal rock throwing and yet also a recurring goofy bit about light bulbs appearing over Clarence害羞草研究所檚 head.

It害羞草研究所檚 a mind-melting piece of filmmaking, having elements of both Monty Python害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淟ife of Brian害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Ten Commandments.害羞草研究所� (Fun fact, the Italian city of Matera stands in for Jerusalem here and was also where 害羞草研究所淭he Passion of the Christ害羞草研究所� was filmed.) Add to that an exciting soundtrack of more than a dozen songs by Samuel (even on the movie) and 害羞草研究所淭he Book of Clarence害羞草研究所� is worth a look simply for its sheer daring. But we wouldn害羞草研究所檛 go so far as to say its creator walks on water.

害羞草研究所淭he Book of Clarence,害羞草研究所� a Columbia Pictures/Legendary Entertainment release that hits theaters Jan. 12, is rated PG-13 for 害羞草研究所渟trong violence, drug use, strong language, some suggestive material and smoking.害羞草研究所� Running time: 136 minutes. Two stars out of four.