Despite having A-list talent at her disposal, Susanne Bier doesn't appear to have delivered with 'Serena'.
It took about 400 years to make, but finally, Serena is here. Well, in the UK anyway. It was always going to get killed at the box-office by The Book of Life, but it seems this drama from Oscar-winning Susanne Bier can't even call upon strong reviews to call itself a success.
Jennifer Lawrence [L] as Serena, and Bradley Cooper [R] as George Pemberton
Set in Depression-era North Carolina, Serena tells the story of George Pemberton (Bradley Cooper), a businessman who struggles to maintain the future of his timber empire. However, things become more complicated when he learns that his wife Serena (Jennifer Lawrence) cannot bear children.
More: read our full review of 'Serena'
It's been a long road to get to this point. Serena was originally due to be directed by Darren Aronofsky, with Angelina Jolie as the lead actress. Bier replaced the Noah director and both Lawrence and Cooper - who worked so well together in Silver Linings Playbook - were cast. Reports suggested that when Lawrence read the script, she sent a copy to Cooper and asked if he would do the film.
"This is a dark and primal story about love, jealousy and greed. Its problem is that the Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier doesn't know what to do with her two incongruously glamorous stars," said Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent.
Some critics suggest Jennifer Lawrence turns in her first bad performance as Serena
"This logging drama is as turgid as the mud that surrounds the forest camp in 1930s North Carolina, despite the fragrant presence of Lawrence as the newlywed Serena in swell silk gowns and jodhpurs," said Kate Muir of The Times.
"The film crumples with a shower of sparks into a forest fire of melodramatic absurdity, with all kinds of violent lurches and plot entanglements. But not before Lawrence has given us a performance of fierce, bladed intensity," wrote Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian.
More: Can Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper recreate Oscars magic in 'Serena'?
"Though she doesn't sparkle much in the X-Men films, this is Lawrence's first genuinely poor performance. Not to worry. Nobody is likely to see the thing," said Donald Clarke of the Irish Times.
Serena hits theaters in the UK today (October 24, 2014) though stateside audiences will have to wait till February 26, 2015.
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