Life of Pi meets The Truman Show here.Īt some point, our protagonist claims to have a metaphor hangover and it’s understandable if Serenity has the same effect on you. It acts as a superlative allegory of Serenity’s hidden depths, which straddle the realms of fantasy, delusion, and speculation. It takes a keen eye to see that, rather than ineptly throwing together a bunch of styles, this shrewd filmmaker has purposely crafted a contentious fusion that flips the finger at Hollywood conventions. The reviews put the ambiguity down to crude screenwriting and direction, but they’re overlooking Knight’s intentions, so transparent they’re invisible to most. Why is a frigatebird that usually only flies over open waters now soaring above land? How come a battered wife isn’t bruised? What’s with the hostile blank stares of the Islanders? Who is the little bespectacled chap, in what must be a stifling suit, doggedly trying to find Baker and rambling about the “rules?” Are these mysterious rules commandments, set by some higher power? Or will Baker find his maker in a more far-fetched source? It all sits about as right as a bellyful of rotting Toro. That’s what appears to be at the core of disdain for Serenity this hotchpotch of styles and clichés, plus the almighty mess they make as they begin to get in each other’s way. They’re all over the multiple genres this story dips its toes in. We’ve seen these quintessential characters before. While Baker is reluctant, a paternal itch and a spiritual connection with Patrick – both a minor and conceptually major player in this ‘game’ – leave the idea lingering.īy the time Karen’s proposal inevitably hooks Baker and reels him in, Serenity feels simultaneously familiar and alien. Desperate to protect herself and Patrick, Baker’s son, she offers him a load of cash to croak her ‘daddy’ during a surprise fishing trip. Married to loathsome Frank (Jason Clark), an abusive millionaire, Karen is at the end of a frayed rope. Things get complicated when Baker’s alluring ex-wife Karen (Anne Hathaway) turns up on the island with a favour to ask. When he’s not chasing the ‘tuna in his head’ with loyal pal Duke (Djimon Hounsou), he’s knocking back too much booze and sleeping with Constance (Diane Lane). Bent on catching Justice – a giant tuna that has evaded him for years – Baker leads a simple life. Set on the peculiarly sleepy island of Plymouth, this neo-noirish mystery-thriller follows surly fishing boat skipper Baker (Matthew McConaughey). And yes, it’s weirder than a smitten Tom Cruise. Yes, it’s a somewhat sour-tasting bouillabaisse of ill-assorted ingredients. The pundits detest Stephen Knight’s latest creation but it’s actually pretty exceptional. Is it even possible to defend Serenity – this year’s most harshly pilloried film to date – without blowing its gargantuan twist right out of the water? Probably not, but let’s have an eager crack at it anyway.
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