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November (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:75
Fresh:23
Rotten:52
Average Rating:5/10
Consensus: Murky and too artsy for its own good, November ends up being a case of style with little substance.
Runtime: 89 mins
Genre: Thriller
Synopsis: This stylish thriller, which was shot on mini-DV in only 15 days in guerilla manner, displays a moody aestheticism and cohesive vision that suggests a bigger budget. The claustrophobic interiors,... This stylish thriller, which was shot on mini-DV in only 15 days in guerilla manner, displays a moody aestheticism and cohesive vision that suggests a bigger budget. The claustrophobic interiors, spare soundtrack, and innovative lighting make the most of a compelling, challenging script that leaves the viewer perennially uncertain as to what is real. Courtney Cox-Arquette, demonstrating her dramatic chops in a drastic shift from her FRIENDS character, stars as Sophie Jacobson, whose boyfriend Hugh (James Le Gros, DRUGSTORE COWBOY, LOVELY & AMAZING) is shot and killed one night in a convenience store while she waits in the car. Traumatized, Sophie is plagued by headaches and strange episodes that increasingly impair her everyday life. Resuming her job as a photography teacher at the local college, she is confronted by a photograph taken the night of the shooting. When she investigates to find out who took it, the answer sets off a string of events that defy explanation. The narrative unfolds in a nonlinear way, traveling both directions in time from the central event of the shooting, recalling in equal parts MEMENTO and MULHOLLAND DRIVE. The couple's history is elaborated, providing new insight into the events surrounding that fateful night, while certain episodes repeat themselves with subtle variations, leaving audiences to parse the truth for themselves. As new elements are constantly introduced, everyone starts to question Sophie's sanity--including the audience. Finally, reality comes unglued and the shock of Sophie's trauma is explored in a new way. [More]
Starring: Courteney Cox-Arquette, Anne Archer, James LeGros, Michael Ealy
Starring: Courteney Cox-Arquette, Anne Archer, James LeGros, Michael Ealy, Nora Dunn
Director: Greg Harrison
Director: Greg Harrison
Screenwriter: Benjamin Brand
Producer: Danielle Renfrew
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Reviews for November
A pileup of stylistic audio and visual gimmicks and special effects, all in need of compelling characters and a story to hook us.
Maybe November wanted to be the missing link between more conventional art-house films and the hallucinogenic dreams of David Lynch. It fails.
Director Greg Harrison attempts to compensate for a weak, undernourished screenplay with flashy visuals, including excessive rapid cutting and blurry shots that add nothing of value.
For those who like these sorts of cinematic Sudoku puzzles, “November” is a good one.
It doesn't always succeed, and sometimes it has the egocentric obviousness of a particularly clever, grad-student thesis film, but at least Harrison is game enough to mess with your head in the first place.
A post-Memento, mess-with-your-head thriller that thinks it's much cleverer than it is.
It's interesting, and November does give us something to chew on. But a puzzle with no payoff isn't worth the effort.
It felt like (November) asked me to drive to a designated location, then kept re-drawing my map.
A sort of 'Occurrence at Owl Creek Convenience Store' for moviegoers more familiar with Nine Inch Nails videos than Ambrose Bierce...
Chalk it all up as useful filler for the downtime between David Lynch pictures.
It's divided into three sections: Denial, Despair and Acceptance. They may as well be called Confoundment, Confusion and Apathy.
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