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Serenity!

Yes, there is an exclamation point in the title of this post. The exclamation point isn't there in the title of the film that I've seen yesterday, but I feel like showing my excitement about this film using punctuation.


I had no idea what to expect. And that's probably the best way to see this film. It will surprise you, confuse you, frustrate you and overwhelm you. And then it will bring you on the verge of tears. Well, that's what it did to me, anyway.

The setup of this so-called 'film noir' seemed rather ordinary: A simple fisherman's ex-wife shows up to ask him to murder her abusive second husband. Sounds like a typical Hollywood murder mystery, or an action-packed revenge story, right? It's not. Trust me. Hollywood is worlds away. The mystery is not where you would expect it. Life is raw and hard and weird. And nothing is what it seems.

Matthew McConaughey is a genius. Even though I feel like he's constantly playing some version of the same character, he manages to pick those films and roles where that works. And Anne Hathaway becomes the best version of her acting self in his vicinity. But she has known that for years. Just after their first collaboration on Interstellar, they were both guests on the Graham Norton Show on the BBC. She gushed over his talents, citing his role in Magic Mike as the revelation of his genius. She predicted his Oscar win. And she could see how he would be beneficial for her own continued acting success. Clever lady.


Go see this film. It's more surprising, creative, original and exciting than anything I've seen in a long time. And if you take into account the many, many films I tend to see on a weekly basis, that means a lot.

Serenity (2019)
Written and directed by Steven Knight
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Djimon Hounsou, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke

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