The Book Of Clarence

"The Book Of Clarence" is a bold new take on the timeless Hollywood era Biblical epic. It's 33 AD in Jerusalem and streetwise but struggling, Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is trying to find a better life for himself and his family, make himself worthy to the woman he loves, and prove that he's not a nobody. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and His Apostles, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, a journey through which he finds redemption and faith, power and knowledge. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Jeymes Samuel and LaKeith Stanfield; the featuretes: "Band Of Brothers: Meet The Cast" (HD 11:33), "Song Of Songs: An Epic Collaboration" (HD 04:11), "The Gospel Of Jeymes: On The Set With Jeymes Samuel" (HD 08:42) and "Book 4: Making The Film" (HD 08:55); gag reel (HD 05:08) and eight deleted scenes (HD 31:04).

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photograph on 35mm Kodak film stock in anamorphic Panavision® using Panavision cameras and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. The picture exhibits a very fine smooth grain structure, which is nicely filmic in appearance. The color palette exhibits rich and warm hues with an emphasis on golden tones depicted in stoned building of Jerusalem and uts desert outskirts. The color palette is quite warm. Flesh tones are perfectly natural and realistic. Contrast is excellent with natural blacks, revealing shadows and realistic white levels. Resolution is superb, especial during closeups of facial features such a skin pores, lines, beard and hair, as well as clothing and objects that depict carriages, structures and housewares. This is a very cinematic picture that is satisfyingly stylized to suggest the period of the messiah. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack dynamic sounding with a large and dimensional soundfield. Atmospherics sound realistic as well do sound effects, especially during gladiator fights and horse carriage races.The music is varied but the orchestral/choral segments are powerful with a wide and deep soundstage that extends aggressive to the surrounds. The holosonic® music really enhances dimensionization and impressively expands the size of the soundfield. Deep bass provided effective enhancements during action segments. Surround envelopment is aggressive. Dialogue is largely ADR produced and quite forward sounding with poor spatial integration. This could have merited a top rating but while the music is well recorded and presented, the dialogue presentation disappoints. (Gary Reber)