Photo/The November Man
The November Man makes its way to theaters this week, just in time for the end of summer.
Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan makes his return to the screen, in a similar fashion but nothing like the fellow that made him internationally known.
Brosnan plays a former CIA agent named Peter Devereaux, who walks away from the organization after a previous mission gone wrong.
Living the “good life” as a family man in Belgrade, Devereaux is pulled back into action after his wife is murdered during another haywire mission and is summoned by his former employer to protect a witness who has knowledge of war crimes committed by a Bosnian politician named Fedrov.
So why the name “The November Man”? Well according to his former supervisor played by Bill Smitrovich, when Devereaux hits the scene, everything dies as if the dead of winter hit.
In his mission to protect the witness, played by former bond girl Olga Kurylenko, he is pitted against his former protégé’ Mason, played by Luke Bracey of G.I Joe fame.
As Mason gives chase to Devereaux throughout the streets of Moscow, the teacher seems to always have the upper hand on his pupil.
A interesting lesson is learned when Mason goes against everything taught to him previously about mixing business with pleasure, thus causing Devereaux to teach yet another lesson and making that delightful experience for Mason less desireable at the time (you’ll figure it out).
Throughout the movie though Brosnan keeps his well known cool demeanor, while displaying a chilling affection for laying the smackdown on a few jabronis along the way.
The film is filled with bullets, fighting, betrayal and lots of blood. But if you’re looking for another bond-like film for 007, this isn’t it.
In fact, Brosnan doesn’t have a single sexual encounter in the film and Bracey gets more play than the suave Englishman.
But even 10 years after signing off as Bond, Brosnan still has the skill at 61 to play a smooth secret agent left to do the dirty work.
This film of espionage can be exilerating at times, but will lead you down a confusing road of twists and turns worse than the Russian streets it’s filmed on.
Director Roger Donaldson’s structure of the film isn’t much to brag about, but Brosnan’s performance keeps the more suspense, less action film in gear.
Head’s up, keep a eye out on the ending scene. It’s one to die for!
Give it a very generous 3/5 stars.
