There's no real payoff -- artistically or emotionally -- in Gregory Harrison's gimmicky and tedious psychological thriller November, shot on ugly digital video.
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
November has the pretensions of an art-house indie trying to one-up a Hollywood trend — in this case, the Sixth Sense-style twist ending that belies everything that has gone before.
Wears its solemnity like a cloak, but I for one am calling emperor’s new clothes.
Style over substance is nothing new. But if it must happen, shouldn't the style be original?
A one-woman Rashomon that plays and replays the same traumatic incident, with shifts in nuance.
The performances are crisp and in focus, with Cox in particular showing a photogenic feel for expressing grief.
November runs out of surprises well before it climaxes, and by the third go-round the plot's thinness is all that's left to illuminate.
A stylistic tour de force dedicated more to constructing a cinematic puzzle than to providing dramatic satisfaction.
While not entirely successful Harrison and company manage to create one of the strangest romantic films out there and for their attempt at the offbeat deserve to be recognized.
Telegraphs its unsatisfying payoff for miles, has no fun getting there, but at least boasts a running time of 73 minutes, padded by a hilariously slow credit crawl.
Even the gamest viewers will become frustrated if they're not let in on the joke.
Director Harrison gives November a terrific look, with an extra helping of dark and moody. In fact, the look of the movie is probably its most impressive aspect
It's solid filmmaking, moody and dark and evocative. It's not the stuff classics are made of, but it's certainly what 70 minutes of psycho-drama entertainment are made of.
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