Change Your Image
patrickbhentges
Reviews
Stevie D (2016)
Fun, overachieving film - but what's up with the sound?
This movie just autoplsyed on YouTube while I was writing a letter, and I was extremely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Some great actors in supporting roles and a real beauty as a bonus, in a movie that although predictable was nonetheless entertaining.
My only issue was the sound; in a few scenes it sounded like one actor was on a speakerphone while the other sounded fine.
Ignore the haters, it's a fun watch.
The November Man (2014)
Nothing like a Bond movie, and in this case that's a good thing...
I never quite bought Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, but then again I grew increasingly tired of the whole color by numbers Bond movies with each new release. Casino Royale and Daniel Craig gave me hope, but that was short-lived ...
But this ISN'T a James Bond movie, and that's a good thing. November Man isn't a Jason Bourne movie either, and that's a better thing. What it is though is a much more believable story where the actors are allowed to be human beings instead of one dimensional cartoon characters or superheroes. That's not a knock against the Bourne flicks, they're great action thrillers, but November Man is a different sort of movie altogether. There's a decent amount of action, but just like in real life the car chases don't go on forever, gunfights are sudden and often surprising, and fight scenes are short, brutal, and painful.
One way of putting it would be to say this is a spy/covert ops movie for grown-ups. There's plenty of tension even if you see one of the two main plot twists coming as I did, in fact that adds to the tension. Of course it's not 'realistic' either, no one would watch a realistic spy movie because it would be so boring the screenwriters would fall asleep before finishing the first scene. November Man has what I judge to be a good blend of intrigue, action, and interesting characters. And because the two main characters are believable with room to grow both personally and in their not so amicable relationship, a sequel or three might have been equally entertaining.
If you're expecting a suave James Bond spy in the style of Connery (the REAL James Bond), Moore, or Brosnan you'll want to give this a pass, but if the grittier Bond that Craig gave us in Casino Royale appeals to you, then do your self a favor and check this out.