Serenity (2019) - Movie Review

Serenity is a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Serenity is a film that has an undercurrent of turbulence, set in the tranquil backdrop of the fictional Plymouth Island. Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) runs a fishing boat which is also called Serenity. He and his first mate, Duke (Djimon Hounsou) take tourists on fishing expeditions to earn money. But what Baker really seeks is Justice. Justice is a massive tuna that Baker has nearly landed four times. Or maybe it was five. But Justice seems just beyond his grasp. When Baker's ex-wife, Karen Zariakas (Anne Hathaway) shows up, it upsets the natural order. She is a game changer. She wants Baker to kill her husband Frank (Jason Clarke). Baker's routine is scripted. Killing violates the rules, but Plymouth is a different type of place. Sometimes, the search for Justice breaks the rules.

The screenplay for Serenity was written by Director Steven Knight. Knight has written some films that I have loved. His experimental film Locke was brilliant. I also likes his film Eastern Promises. He was nominated for an Oscar for Dirty Pretty Things which I liked less. He has a massive body of work, much of it worthwhile. I was surprised to see that Serenity was hovering at the 5/10 mark on IMDb. The trailers looked appealing to me. Critics appear to hate it, and the masses aren't far behind. Yet, I found myself pleased by this film. I can't really explain the low ratings. The characters were intriguing with a plot that had an interesting twist. It was predictable at times, but the broader story was not predictable until the story started to reveal itself. It was intelligent. A film that slowly morphed from suspense to science fiction. There could have been more meat on the bones, but it was a decent story.

Jason Clarke seems to be in everything these days. He was strong in the supporting role as an abusive husband. McConaughey has become one of my favorite actors. He did some dud films early in his career, but he has more than made up for those poor choices. He usually lands unique, intriguing characters. This film is no different. He brings his subdued brand of contemplation to this film. Anne Hathaway is another perennial star who lent her name to this film. She was solid. Hounsou brought balance to McConaughey's character. Between them, you have three Oscar winners and a couple of nominees. With this type of star power, the film could have been better, but I still found it to be a solid story with great performances.

Serenity received an R rating from the MPAA. The film isn't excessive. There is some blood and violence, but it is minor and contextual. There is strong language throughout the film. There is plenty of beer and rum consumed during the story. The film has some sexuality, but that felt contextual as well. The nudity was confined to McConaughey's buttocks, which I could have done without. But it didn't seem gratuitous. Overall, this film doesn't rely on violence or sexuality. I would recommend a teen audience or older. Run time is one hour, 46 minutes.

Serenity is a decent film. Maybe folks will come around to it eventually. It would not surprise me to see this film creep back up toward the "6" mark on IMDb as a broader audience sees this film. I am truly baffled by such a low rating. This film isn't great. It isn't going to win a bunch of awards. But it is intelligent and engaging. I enjoyed the film. I liked the characters, I liked the theme, I enjoyed the performances and I thought the pacing was steady. It is not a bad film. My recommendation would be to wait for it to show up on your streaming service and then stream it for free. 7/10.

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