Review: Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man


Mobster William Smith sends his man Roger E. Mosley to check on his rival, having him pose as a preacher. He soon becomes a pillar of the black community, and learns he can make a lot of money by double-crossing his boss. Michael Pataki (quite good) is a superficial white politician who initially shuns helping the African American community, Sam Laws plays a deacon (!).

 

Well-intentioned, but cheap, unconvincing 1973 Henning Schellerup (the supposedly awful religious film “In Search of Historic Jesus” and a TV movie version of “The Time Machine”) blaxploitation film with a frankly boring plot, and dull direction, though Mosley (yeah, the black guy from “Magnum P.I.”) has undeniable charisma in an unlikeable part. Unfortunately he isn’t given enough opportunity to give the big, righteous preacher moments one keeps expecting. Sam Laws is as hilarious as always, though. William Smith fans (and I believe there are some), won’t get much out of this, though, he’s not in it much, and it’s not an especially muscular role (he tends to play muscular heroes or muscular thugs).

 

It’s different, but ultimately the lack of talent behind the camera sinks it. Screenplay by John Cerullo, M. Stuart Madden, and Abbey Leitch, who clearly couldn’t agree on what kind of film (cheap black-oriented entertainment, gangster picture, or social commentary) they wanted to make. And yet, there are moments here and there when you think it’s going somewhere interesting, if not providing the usual blaxploitation blend of action and sex that some might want. Maybe Larry Cohen (“Black Caesar”) might have done something more interesting with this basic idea (which actually isn’t a bad one, inherently). Possibly worth a look for curiosity’s sake, but nothing substantial.

 

Rating: C+

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