Films that center around a plot to kill a spouse due to violence, infidelity or for money reasons is certainly something Hollywood has delved into before, but when things go totally awry due to a series of twists and turns, this gives that film an onion effect where when one peels a layer, there is more than meets the eye. With "Serenity", this is the epitome of the old adage, "oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive".
Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) is a fishing boat captain leading tours off a tranquil enclave called Plymouth Island with his fishing business partner, Duke (Djimon Hounsou). His quiet life is shattered, however, when his ex-wife, Karen Zariakas (Anne Hathaway) tracks him down with a desperate plea for help. She begs Dill to save her--and their young son--from her new, violent husband, Frank Zariakas (Jason Clarke) by taking him out to sea on a fishing excursion, getting him drunk, only to throw him to the sharks and leave him for dead. Karen's appearance thrusts Dill back into a life he'd try to forget, and as he struggles between right and wrong, his world is plunged into a new reality that may not be all that it seems.
Others to round out the cast are Diane Lane as Constance, Jeremy Strong as Reid Miller, Charlotte Butler as Lois, David Butler as Jack, Rafael Sayegh as Patrick, Karen's and Dill's son, Michael Richard as Ron, Robert Hobbs as Ape, Kenneth Fok as Lionel and Garion Dowds as Samson.
This was directed by seasoned writer, Steven Knight ("Locke" '13) plus TV. As this filmmaker is a consummate writer, he truly excels in the director's chair. His other film "Locke" was not only directed well, but exquisitely written by him as well. He definitely brought out those interesting emotions from his actors to convince the audience that these characters were not only cunning, but, in their own ways, were amazingly unstable. It was also well written by Knight ("Gypsy Woman" '01, "Dirty Pretty Things" '02, "Amazing Grace" '06, "Eastern Promises" '07, "Redemption" '13, "Closed Circuit" '13, "Locke" '13, "The Hundred-Foot Journey" '14, "Pawn Sacrifice" '14, "Seventh Son" '14, "Burnt" '15, "Allied" '16, "Woman Walks Ahead" '17, "November Criminals" '17, "The Girl in the Spider's Web" '18) plus TV. By his very resume, this writer is a seasoned veteran, with most of his work written originally for the screen, and this film is no exception. Not that films based on a novel, musicals, memoirs, articles or other films are easy films to write, but when a writer has to create something out of nothing, this has got to be challenging. Even though the premise of this seems unoriginal--Hollywood has produced a number of films with a similar premise, as this films envelopes, the twists and turns start rearing and catches the audience by surprise. Other than a bit amount of choppiness, this was a rock solid storyline and kept me riveted for the hour and three quarters running time.
This film demands the audiences' attention and will capture your curiosity from scene to scene. And trust me, other than Duke, it is truly difficult to feel sorry for just about anyone in this film. The cast is quality with both McConaughey and Hathaway giving their usual solid performances. The quirkiness of the different twists will keep you wondering what is waiting for the actors around the next bend. If this film teaches people anything, it is don't deceive, or it will come back and bite you in the tush.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 106mins.
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