Synopsis: An ex-CIA operative is brought back in on a very personal mission and finds himself pitted against his former pupil in a deadly game involving high level CIA officials and the Russian president-elect. (c) Imdb
Pierce Brosnan hasn’t retired after all! Brosnan stars as ex- CIA operative Devereaux that’s jumps back in the spy game in The November Man. We have clearly seen this genre done before with Brosnan playing an ex-CIA agent who’s being dragged back into the field to counter a task that nobody else seems capable of doing. Makes you think what is wrong with all the hundreds of operatives that are currently at work! Are they incapable of handing missions? Kind of a scary thought if it was reality.
Devereaux is brought back on a mission that’s personal to him (what mission isn’t?). A woman that is close to his heart is in grave danger and Devereaux needs to save her before the bad guys get to her. The added twist lies in the fact that opposing him on the mission is his former protegee Mason (Luke Bracey). The majority of the fun in the film comes between the cat and mouse game that Devereaux and Mason play with another. It’s the classic protegee versus the master storyline. It’s a cliche storyline that’s been done before hundreds of times movies. They are pitted against each other, even though they have a common villain to chase in the Russian president-elect who has been linked to some bad things including rape and murder of innocent civilians. Joining Devereaux on the mission is the mysterious Alice (Olga Kurylenko), who just might be the key to unraveling the entire puzzle.
Brosnan is solid in the role of Devereaux. Clearly he is channeling his role as James Bond just a little less flirty, more cold, and more vicious. Brosnan has a bit of that Liam Neeson thing going for him and for a guy in his 60’s he can still go at it. On the other hand the young Aussie Like Bracey doesn’t have much going for him. He’s very robotic in his acting in this movie. Needs a large does of adrenaline to his stoic character of Mason. Olga Kurylenko seems to have found a niche as the informant and female sidekick in action films. She’s easy on the eyes and has some badass in her.
The Blu-ray DVD features include: The Making of The November Man, Brosnan is Back, Bringing Belgrade to the Big Screen, Commentary by Roger Donaldson, Pierce Brosnan, and Bo St. Clair, and a Theatrical Trailer. The Making of of The November Man feature is about 11 minutes is behind the scenes footage of the making of the film. Brosnan is Back featurette is 6 plus minutes of the cast and crew talking about Brosnan. It’s a nice little feature. The near 6 minute feature of Bringing Belgrade to the Big Screen takes a look at the shooting locations and picturesque views of the city that are neat to witness. Overall, there aren’t many bonus features. The few that they have a fairly short, but worth checking out.
The November Man is pretty much what you expect it to be. A run of the mill action thriller featuring one of the biggest name of the genre. For die-hard fans of the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films, this is worth checking out. If you are in the mood for a predictable, yet fun thriller then this is also worth a look. There is no reason to come into the film with high expectations, it’s a fun, fast, and mindless action flick.
The November Man is currently available on Blu-ray and DVD everywhere.
The November Man - 5.5 out of 10!
Brosnan isn’t done with action yet