Classics to enjoy during Easter holidays
TIRED of watching the same old narration of Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection during the Easter holidays? You can shake up the routine by binge-watching some of cinema’s timeless classics. Here are my picks of what to watch this holiday weekend.
The Book of Clarence
To call this movie a classic would be a bit of a stretch given that it is relatively new. It was released in January this year.
However, it does have a certain panache about it that makes it an ideal choice for this particular holiday.
“The Book of Clarence” is a biblical comedy-drama film and is a follow-up film by singer, songwriter and filmmaker Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall).
It takes place in AD 33 and follows Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield), who happens to be the twin brother of one of Jesus Christ’s disciples — Thomas (also played by Stanfield).
When he gets himself into debt with a notorious loan shark by the name of
Jedediah the Terrible (Eric Kofi-Abrefa), Clarence and his trusted friend Elijah (RJ Cyler) decide to mimic Jesus Christ’s rising popularity.
The film is not for everyone but does have some deep-rooted lessons on faith and finding one’s purpose in life.
The film’s soundtrack is one of its strengths. It also contains a great line-up of cameos and guest appearances, among them Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, Anna Diop and David Oyelowo.
Passion of the Christ
I am not really sure where Mel Gibson stands with the international movie audience.
Whatever ones’ opinion on the actor is, especially after the infamous Malibu DUI arrest in 2006 during which he unleashed an anti-Semitic rant, it remains clear that the 68-year-old is one of cinema’s greats.
While most think of the “Lethal Weapon” franchise when the name Gibson comes up, “Passion of the Christ” is the film I most associate with the American actor.
The movie is an epic biblical drama produced, directed and co-written by Gibson. At the time of its release in 2004, many people missed out on the rich language, dialogue and imagery that characterised the movie, best remembered for its graphic and gruesome depiction of Jesus Christ’s death.
Back then, we were not as desensitised to violence and gore in cinema as we are now.
It is time to revisit this classic with a renewed vigour and a more open mind.
My disdain and hatred for reboots and remakes are well-known for those who have followed this column for the last couple of years.
It is against this background that I have delayed watching the remake of the 1991 drama “Neria”, a film that was the cinematic lovechild of novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga and the renowned late director Godwin Mawuru.
Fun fact: “Free Willy” (1993), “Neria” and “Bambi” (1942) are the only three flicks to have ever made me cry or shed a tear in my entire life.
Now, I am yet to sit down to watch the remake “Neria 21” but one cannot talk about movie classics without paying homage to the country’s highest-grossing local movie of all time.
The reviews, both word of mouth and written, for the remake have been largely positive and there is no better time than now to maybe give it a good viewing.
Much like the original, “Neria 21” tells the story of an African woman who sees her entire life and business crumble after the untimely death of her husband.
She, however, discovers her worth and finds her greatness again.
Gladiator
This one is a bit of a cheat, but it does go hand-in-hand with the three movies above.
Like “The Book of Clarence” and “Passion of the Christ”, it is a great epic movie, and it also has a delayed sequel coming.
It is a classic by every definition of the word and my favourite movie of all time.
“Gladiator” follows Russel Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, kills his father and seizes the throne.
Maxmus narrowly escapes murder when he refuses to acknowledge Commodus, but gets captured by slave traders and fights his way back to Rome and avenges for the death of his king and family.
Crowe and Phoenix are exceptional in their roles as Maximus and Commodus, matching the writing and directing of Ridley Scott.
With the sequel coming out later this year, now might be the time to dust off the cobwebs and give this classic a second viewing.