Greetings from Lithuania.

I did not knew anything about "Serenity" (2019) before watching it. No trailer, no synopsis, so all the surprises that were in his movie were genuine for me. And there are quite few surprises to say the least but i won't spoil anything nor discuss the plot.

Overall, "Serenity" (2019) has a pretty unique plot and even kind of original one. It works as a good thriller as well as a mystery movie. And of course great actors of this caliber add a lot to a movies, which is very clear with this movie.

Overall, "Serenity" is a pretty original, superbly looking, superbly acted movie that does not look what it seem. Yet despite all twists i really enjoyed it for its premise, execution and spiritual theme.

Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) is a fishing boat captain obsessed with catching one particular tuna fish. He pushes aside his own tour customer to catch the fish and his assistant Duke (Djimon Hounsou) quits. Constance (Diane Lane) gives him money in exchange for sex. His ex-wife Karen (Anne Hathaway) tracks him down despite his fake identity. She is willing to pay him $10 million to kill her husband Frank Zariakas (Jason Clarke) who abuses her and Baker's son Patrick.

The first half seems to be trying for Hitchcock but various mannerisms and unreality kept dragging it down. One could see the changes needed to keep this on track better. Then the skinny guy shows up with the suitcase. The story takes a left turn. I'm still no in love with the twist. I do appreciate that it made the movie more cohesive. This is not the best. I'd rather have it go straight but I'm willing to give the twist some leeway.

Writer and director Steven Knight wants to subvert the hard boiled film noir matrix but fails.

Baker Dill (Matthew McConaughey) is an ex war veteran now a down on his luck small fishing boat operator in Plymouth Island. It is supposedly set somewhere around the Florida Keys. He is assisted by loyal Duke (Djimon Hounsou.) However Dill has an Ahab like obsession in catching a big fish called Justice, even if it means ruining the paid trips by tourists.

His ex wife and mother to his teenage son, Karen (Anne Hathaway) turns up with a proposition. She wants her new rich husband Frank (Jason Clarke) dead. Frank is a monster, he has been abusive to her and Baker's son who spends all his time on a computer. Karen will pay Baker good money, all Baker needs to do is get him drunk and toss him into the sea so he will be gobbled up by sharks.

Knight has failed in his execution in Serenity. As a straight noir thriller it is dull and predictable.

Hathaway is not much of as femme fatale. Diane Lane who plays Baker's friend with benefits would have done it better.

There are constant hints in the movie of some other worldliness. Even the locations point to this. Plymouth Island looks less like something that is off Miami Beach but more like a Caribbean island. In fact it is filmed in Mauritius and we had fun looking at locations we had visited over there.

The film never hits its stride, when it pulls the rug under your feet; you never for a moment think that was clever. Only Jason Clarke made an impression.