In this alleged neo-noir thriller, Matthew McConaughey stars as chain-smoking Iraq War vet Baker Dill, a fishing boat captain who caters to tourists while obsessively pursuing an elusive giant tuna off a Caribbean-like island called Plymouth. Drinking rum from a World’s Greatest Dad mug, Dill lives alone, although he’s dallying-for-dollars with Constance (Diane Lane), a hot-to-trot divorcee. Suddenly his sultry ex-wife Karen (Anne Hathaway)—a beautiful blonde femme fatale—struts into the only bar on the island. Karen offers Dill $10 million to take her obscenely rich but also mean and sadistic new husband, Frank Zariakas (Jason Clarke), fishing on Dill’s twin-engine cutter, dubbed Serenity, and throw him overboard for the sharks. Of course, Dill demurs—at first—until he realizes exactly how abusive Frank is, not only to Karen but also to Dill’s teenage son Patrick (Rafael Sayegh). While Dill’s dutiful first-mate (Djimon Hounsou) tries to steer him away from temptation, there’s also the appearance of Reid Miller (Jeremy Strong), a nerdy fishing-supplies sales rep on a mission. And there’s a surreal, mind-bending twist. British writer-director Steven Knight gives McConaughey more cheesy nude scenes than either of his female costars in this sleazy, sweaty, and ultimately unsatisfying waterlogged potboiler. Not recommended. (S. Granger)
Serenity
Universal, 107 min., R, DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $34.98, Apr. 30 Volume 34, Issue 3
Serenity
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