Serena (2014)

In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton's timber empire becomes complicated when he marries Serena.

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Christopher Kyle (screenplay), Ron Rash (based on the book by)

Stars:

Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Rhys Ifans

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bradley Cooper	...	George Pemberton
Jennifer Lawrence	...	Serena Pemberton
Rhys Ifans	...	Galloway
Toby Jones	...	Sheriff McDowell
David Dencik	...	Buchanan
Sean Harris	...	Campbell
Ana Ularu	...	Rachel Hermann
Sam Reid	...	Vaughn
Conleth Hill	...	Doctor Chaney
Charity Wakefield	...	Agatha
Douglas Hodge	...	Horace Kephart
Kim Bodnia	...	Abe Hermann
Christian McKay	...	Boston bank manager (as Christian Mckay)
Philip Zandén	...	Calhoun (as Philip Zanden)
Ned Dennehy	...	Ledbetter

Storyline

In Depression-era North Carolina, the future of George Pemberton's timber empire becomes complicated when he marries Serena.

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Plot Keywords:

axe accident | murder disguised as hunting accident | logging baron | timber camp | timbering accident | 

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Taglines:

Some loves can never let you go.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2010 Blacklist; a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year.

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Goofs

On two occasions there are "Zippo" lighters shown and used. The movie takes place in 1929. The "Zippo" company was not founded until 1932 (per their website).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pemberton: Hell, that dog's bigger than that. I thought you said there were panthers here.
Galloway: I ain't seen a panther in these mountains for nine years.
Pemberton: What about the carcass we found up in Noland? Something mauled that.
Galloway: That weren't no panther. Chest weren't torn open. They eat the heart first.
Pemberton: You find me an honest-to-God panther to hunt, and I'll give you a $20 gold piece.
Galloway: If there's a panther still around here it's likely touched by the devil. They end up hunting you.
Pemberton: Well, I want one.

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Connections

Featured in Top 5 Best/Worst: Top 5 Worst Jennifer Lawrence Performances (2016)

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Soundtracks

I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Written by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
Performed by Billie Holiday
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Disappointing adaptation:

Serena has had quite a hard time so far. Filmed in 2012, it has been shelved for over a year and half due to apparent scheduling. But finally, after all that time it has come to light at this year's BFI London Film Festival for a world-premiere! But it does raise the question, is it a hidden gem that we have been long-desiring? Or is it so bad that it has was hidden on purpose? Unfortunately it appears to be the later.

Considering that is has two A-list on screen regulars; Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, the film is surprisingly dissatisfying. Set in North Carolina in the Depression era, the film accounts the perspective of George Pemberton (Cooper) and his wood-plantation empire. That is until he meets Serena (Lawrence), when he suddenly suggests 'we should be married' - and they immediately do. In fairy- tales this is expected, but in a reality period drama it is loose and leaves no belief in their relationship. As a result, throughout the events of the film we have no attachment to them at all.

Once on board with Pemberton's wood-empire, Serena does not want to just be a trophy-wife, but instead gets hands-on involved in the dirty business end and is not afraid to throw some axes.

Form there onwards the film repeats the same formula over again: Romance, wood-chopping, politics - repeat. It is a tedious cycle with the all-so often subplots appearing that have no registration to the already flimsy story.

Also featuring; Rhys Ifans (as the bearded hit-man), Toby Jones (as Sheriff McDowell) and Sean Harris (as a wood-chopper), the film shockingly concludes with a melodrama on misplacement and seems unsure of where it is going, or what genre it even is.

If there was one positive thing to be said about Serena, it would be the six sex scenes between Cooper and Lawrence. But even then, the chemistry between them is tightly bound compared to their previous on-screen duos (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle).

Directed by Academy-Award winning Susanne Bier and penned by Christopher Kyle, it is hard to find who is exactly to blame. Is it the direction of the story? Either way it is a disappointing adaptation.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

Czech Republic France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Falling

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$100,090, 29 March 2015

Gross USA:

$176,391

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,092,129

Company Credits

Production Co:

2929 Productions, Chockstone Pictures, Nick Wechsler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1