Rising from the ashes of the ill fated television series Firefly, this film continues the story of Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his rebel crew as they continue to run from the agents of omnipotent Alliance government onboard the titular spacecraft Serenity. From the outset, for those who did not see the series, we learn that the crew of Serenity is harbouring sibling fugitives Simon and River Tam. River was rescued from an Alliance facility by her brother Simon who had discovered that his sister was being subjected to inhumane testing and conditioning to serve the Alliances own ends. Now a highly skilled operative has been tasked to retrieve River at all costs.

Anyone intimately familiar with Writer/Director Joss Whedon’s scripting will not have to be told that the film is a sold piece of story telling. From plot to dialogue you would be hard pressed to find a person more skilled in his craft. Akin to skill of The West Wing creator Arron Sorkin, Whedon draws you into his world through his vivid fully realised characters and quick witted dialogue and has the rare ability to flip the mood of a scene in a seconds notice. For example; in a tense scene when the crew is facing impossible odds it is remarked by one of them that none of them will survive the fight. To this the most hardened killer among them, the mercenary Jayne (Adam Baldwin, below right), remarks meekly “I might…”

My only criticism concerning the film is that from the outset you may feel as if you are watching an extended television episode. Whedon’s direction seemingly graduates from his small screen origins to the big budget director he is destined to become as set pieces become more elaborate and scenes more explosive as the film progresses. Although this was my apprehension during the movie, and that I feel that it will be critiqued by other viewer, I suspect that this evolution may have been Whedon’s plan all along.

Whedon’s stellar cowboys bring star making performances to the screen, in particular the films central protagonists Mal Reynolds played by Nathan Fillion(left) and Summer Glau(below right with Chitwetel Ejofor) who plays the mysterious River Tam. Fillion aptly plays a man at odds with himself as Captain Reynolds struggles to maintain his tough cold hearted criminal image against his more natural heroic and moral leanings while graceful Glau (She's been a premier ballerina most of her life) plays the part of the mentally unstable little sister and the unstoppable fighting machine with equal vitality. Also standout and separate from the original cast is the films central villain, The Operative, played by Englishman Chiwetel Ejiofor(right) who brings a suitable detached coolness (he’s the film’s most quotable character) to his role as the efficient hunter and killer.

VERDICT
I’m sure many people (read: those who never watched) will be put off of Serenity when they see it is from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and spin-off Angel (despite both shows huge critical and commercial success), but if this is the case these people will miss out on a rightful summer blockbuster which has far more intellect, wit, style and heart than any other film they are likely to see this year. Whedon and his cast manage to keep viewers at the edge of their seat, rolling in the isles, standing to cheer and speechless in shock all at once in this soon to be cult classic.

Adapted from the Vertigo Comics graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke the film follows Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) – a small town family man and restaurant owner who’s past comes back to haunt him. Tom becomes an American hero after killing two violent thieves that attempt to rob his restraint and kill his staff. Not long after the incident gangster Carl Fogaty (Ed Harris, right) comes to town convinced Tom is a professional killer that he knows as Joey Cusack.

Violence spreads like a fire through the lives of Tom’s family. Following his heroic act Tom’s teenage son hospitalises the school bully, he and wife Edie’s (Maria Bello) sex life mutates from a mutual loving a sensual act as seen in an early scene to a savage a brutal relief of tension and anger.

Lord of the Rings Mortensen (right) effectively shows the internal turmoil of his transformation from loving husband and father to violent killer. The violence seen in the coffee shop scene acts not only as a path for Tom’s old enemies to follow but also for his own buried character to slowly claw its way to the surface.

Bello (left) is also on top form as a woman trying desperately to keep her family safe and together while she watches in horror as her husband descends deeper into darkness becoming an unrecognisable force of nature.


VERDICT
If you’re looking for an all action guns blazing action film on a Friday night then stay away from this. Cronenberg’s slow burning pace gives A History of Violence a constant feeling of tension which is only ever broken by horrific and savage bloodshed. This film will not be for everyone but if your looking for an intelligent insight into the human relationship with violence this film is what your looking for.

While having a quick glance at the TV listings the other day I noticed that new cop show The Closer was starting on five. Having just completed watching the whole first series which has just rapped in the States I thought I’d give it a quick review.

Staring Kyra Sedgwick (Born on the Forth of July, Phenomenon) the series follows Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson a CIA-trained, Atlanta detective who has been brought to Los Angeles to head up the Priority Murder Squad, a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases.. Though Johnson has an unbeaten record for closing cases (hence the name) her quirky personality and hard-nosed approach to her job manages to piss a lot of people off, not Least of which is Robbery-Homicide Division’s Captain Taylor played by Robert Gossett (right)

Although things are tough for this woman in the predominantly male LAPD, Johnson manages to rise above not only the petty and petulant aggression of Capt. Taylor and his crony Detective Flynn and even criticism from her own squad to get the job done.

Boasting not only Sedgwick’s great performance, The Closer also has a fantastic supporting cast. Brenda’s chief ally and boss Will Pope (left) played by the great J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jamieson in Spider-Man) adds weight to the show and also levity through his conversations with Brenda, whom it is revealed had a messy affair back in Atlanta. Key Players in the Priory Homicide Squad are Det. Lt. Provenza (left) played by G.W. Bailey (most famous as Capt. Harris in Police Academy) and new comer Corey Reynolds who plays Brenda’s right hand man Sgt. Gabriel.

VERDICT
Despite great performances from the cast and from Sedgwick, Simmons and Bailey in particular The Closer just can’t compete with superior shows of the same genre. Lacking the grit and grime of The Shield, another cop show set in L.A., failing to acknowledge the extent of internal police politics can have on major cases, as shown in The Wire. At the moment The Closer is best viewed when no other shows are on, but, all it needs are a few minor tweaks to gain an extra star.