But Samuel never stays with any idea for long and The Book of Clarence 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 — like Spider-Mans in the multiverse — 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’s 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’s flesh, yet also includes humor at the crucifixion — 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’s head.

It’s a mind-melting piece of filmmaking, having elements of both Monty Python’s Life of Brian and The Ten Commandments. (Fun fact, the Italian city of Matera stands in for Jerusalem here and was also where The Passion of the Christ was filmed.) Add to that an exciting soundtrack of more than a dozen songs by Samuel (even one with Jay-Z, also a producer on the movie) and The Book of Clarence is worth a look simply for its sheer daring. But we wouldn’t go so far as to say its creator walks on water.

‘The Book of Clarence’ is out nationwide on Jan. 12, 2024.