Serena

Released Year: 2014

Directed by Susanne Bier

Casted by:

Bradley Cooper as George Pemberton

Jennifer Lawrence as Serena Pemberton (née Shaw)

Rhys Ifans as Galloway

Sean Harris as Campbell

Toby Jones as Sheriff McDowell

Sam Reid as Joe Vaughn

Ana Ularu as Rachel Hermann

Story:

The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire. George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child by young Rachel Harmon but Serena is new to the mountains. Upon stepping off the train in Waynesville, George is confronted by Rachel's father, Abe Harmon, who is angry at his daughter's abandonment and is hoping Pemberton will assist them financially. When Serena responds that George will not be assisting them, Abe attacks George with bowie knife. Ultimately George wins the battle and kills Abe. George also meets his business partners Wilkie and Buchanan at the train station and introduces them to his new wife, Serena.

Serena will soon show herself to be the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattlesnakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness. Together, the Pembertons ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Meanwhile, Rachel Harmon struggles to take care of her son, Jacob. When Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out to murder the son George fathered without her. Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel. In the end, Serena tricks her husband and poisons George and he is left to die in the woods, it is implied that he is finished off by a panther. In an epilogue, an elderly Rachel reads a magazine article about Serena the lumber baron in Brazil, which she shows to her son. Serena is later murdered by a man whom an eyewitness identifies as her husband from an old photograph.

L² Scored: 5/10

L² Comment:

The movie is based on the same name novel of Ron Rash in 2008, love Bradly Cooper, love Jennifer Lawrence, love the sceneries... but how much i love the storyline? Umm... not that much as some part i found it kinda boring actually. One face attracted me in this movie which is Ana Ularu, love this Romanian actress, i must find some chance to watch some of her movie :)