Serenity (2019)

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Strong
Directed by: Steven Knight
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A fishing boat captain (Matthew McConaughey) begins to question his reality after his ex-wife (Anne Hathaway) shows up, asking him to kill her current husband (Jason Clarke).

Review:

Tim: I suppose Serenity deserves some credit for its unconventional, unique story. People (myself included) always complain about Hollywood delivering the same old stories, rarely giving us anything new. The full story, however, is more complicated. Every year, there are movies that deliver something unexpected, something we haven't seen before. Sometimes they work out (Midnight Special, Predestination), but just as often, they don't quite come together. The wrong lesson is learned- that audiences only want things that are familiar. Branching out, trying something new is necessary. Serenity is an example of an ambitious attempt that doesn't quite get off the ground. So, we need to applaud Steven Knight and this film for the effort to do something different, even if the end result is disappointing.

This film really hangs on its twist. There's a pretty big departure from the expected at a certain point in this film. I understand the idea behind it, but the execution is lacking. The movie starts out fairly expected, giving us what appears to be a sordid revenge thriller. Some odd things begin happening, which make you question what's really going on. I have to say that some of these connected and hinted at the bigger mystery, but some of them just felt confusing. The movie really stumbles here. These odd little things needed to build a sense of "I can't wait to find out what is happening in this movie!" but more often than not, they resulted in, "What the hell is happening in this stupid movie?" There's a thin line there, but the weirdness of the story alienates the audience more than drawing them in. By the time the big mystery is revealed, it feels underwhelming, unsatisfying, and kind of stupid. This is a movie that pushes all its chips into the middle, wagering it all that audiences will be floored by the revelation of the mystery. When we kind of shrug and grimace, you know things haven't worked out well.

It's a shame the story is a mess because the cast actually put some effort into their roles. Matthew McConaughey gave a a solid performance and did some interesting things with his character. I enjoyed watching his performance, even as he tried to sell on us things we weren't willing or able to buy. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, this role reminded me of the many bad movies McConaughey has made over the years. Anne Hathaway wasn't great in the role. Her performance feels like too much effort went into it when it needed to appear effortless. She's trying so hard to play this character, it doesn't feel natural or believable. She has some nice moments, but her performance as a whole felt uneven. Diane Lane is really good in her supporting role. She felt completely at ease and authentic in her performance. I wish she had more substantial things to do. Jason Clarke was mirthful in his over-the-top antagonist role. He contributes quite a bit by playing a character we don't like, but who doesn't ever feel too one-dimensional. I always like seeing Djimon Hounsou, and as we've come to expect over his long body of work, he gives a strong supporting performance.

In the end, I give Serentiy some credit for trying something different. However, the story is too obtuse, the revelation too anticlimactic. I was never convinced that I should care about any of what was happening (at the highest level, because I did get invested in the individual character stories). This movie is a misfire.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Truman Show, Inception