This image released by Relativity Media shows Pierce Brosnan in a scene from the film, "The November Man." (AP Photo/Relativity Media, Aleksandar Letic)

This image released by Relativity Media shows Pierce Brosnan in a scene from the film, "The November Man." (AP Photo/Relativity Media, Aleksandar Letic)

Reeling it in: Film leaves reviewer wondering what else is on

“The November Man”

Relativity Media

1 hour, 48 minutes

Pierce Brosnan is one of those actors that everybody likes but nobody really loves. You’ll find some people passionate about his particular take on James Bond or perhaps a big “Remington Steele” fan here and there, but for the most part Brosnan doesn’t really inspire a huge fan-base.

The upshot of this is that using him as a leading man pretty much ensures that you’ll get people out to the theater as long as there’s not much else on. That fact — that there’s not much else on — is the only thing that can account for the even moderate success of this week’s tedious throw-back spy thriller, “The November Man” — moderate being the operative word. People are so bored with the new round of flicks that “Guardians of the Galaxy” has topped the box office for the fourth weekend in a row. That’s a month at number one and, while “Guardians” is a lot of fun, it’s certainly not some kind of cinematic revelation.

The trailer for “The November Man” looked dull, but you have to figure that if there’s anything Brosnan is good at, it’s playing the spy. Unfortunately, it seems as though the actor is as bored with playing the role as we are of watching him. Here he plays Peter Devereaux, veteran CIA operative and certified badass. After an op-gone-wrong (isn’t that always the way?) Devereaux retires, leaving Mason, his agent-in-training, to pick up the pieces without his mentor.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The two are destined to meet again, however, when our hero is pulled back into the life five years later. Devereaux is sent in to rescue a fellow agent and instead comes face to face with Mason, whose assignment is to kill said agent. What?! Is someone in the agency running a double-cross? Is someone trying to clean the slate, getting rid of old agents? And what about that mysterious Serbian woman and the heir to the Russian presidency? Could there be a shady conspiracy brewing that will pit two master assassins against each other, one trying to avenge his love and find the truth and the other trying to do his job and prove something to his old master? Could it be that we’ve seen everything in this film in a dozen better movies? Yes.

I was checked out of “The November Man” within the first few lines of cliché dialogue, and things really don’t ever pick up. Brosnan is supposed to be a man on the edge, but there’s no edginess about him. He’s better at playing smooth. Here, the smooth turns to a weary listlessness which I think is supposed to be Brosnan’s version of menacing. I found it impossible to care about the character, mostly because it felt as though Brosnan didn’t care. The rest of the cast is equally tiresome with no one feeling particularly invested in the production. I’m a little surprised, actually, that “The November Man” got a wide-screen release at all. The production values, the script, even the themes feel 20 years old.

Sure, there’s some passable action, and even a surprise or two. There is a moment, a confrontation between Devereaux and Mason involving Mason’s new girlfriend, where Brosnan even comes alive for a second, but the scene is weirdly out of character and the whole episode is abruptly dropped. Beyond that it’s the same old pseudo-complicated plot you’ve seen before where it’s difficult to keep up with the tiny plot details, but impossible not to guess the major ones.

I don’t know if this film was an effort to build a new franchise for the aging Brosnan, but I hope the powers that be rethink that decision. “The November Man” is dull, glum and unengaging and though his star-power is somewhat waned, Pierce Brosnan deserves a better retirement than this.

Grade: D+

“The November Man” is rated R for language, violence, completely gratuitous nudity and sexual situations.

 

Chris Jenness is a freelance graphic designer, artist and movie buff who lives in Nikiski.

More in Life

"Octopus" is an acrylic painting by new co-op member Heather Mann on display at Ptarmigan Arts in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Ptarmigan Arts
July First Friday in Homer

Homer’s galleries and public art spaces celebrate with new and ongoing exhibits.

Frank Rowley and his youngest child, Raymond, stand in knee-deep snow in front of the protective fence around the main substation for Mountain View Light & Power in Anchorage in 1948 or ’49. This photo was taken a year or two before Rowley moved to Kenai to begin supplying electrical power to the central peninsula. (Photo courtesy of the Rowley Family)
Let there be light: The electrifying Frank Rowley — Part 2

In July 1946, the soft-spoken Rowley was involved in an incident that for several consecutive days made the front page of the Anchorage Daily Times.

This nostalgic sauce is so shockingly simple, you’ll never buy a bottle again. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
America’s favorite culinary representative

The original recipe for ranch dressing was invented and perfected in Alaska, out in the bush in 1949.

Graphics show the nine finalists in three age groups for the Soldotna “I Voted” sticker design contest. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna announces finalists for ‘I Voted’ sticker contest

Public voting will be open until July 20 to determine the winners.

Homer’s Cosmic Creature Club performs at the 2024 Concert on the Lawn at Karen Hornaday Park. (Emilie Springer/Homer News file)
July events to provide entertainment and fun on lower Kenai Peninsula

Events include the Highland Games, Concert on the Lawn, local art camps and the Ninilchik Rodeo.

Nick Varney
Unhinged Alaska: Flashback dreams and the cold sweats

When summer arrives, every personage in the known cosmos suddenly seems to remember that they have kindred living in Alaska.

File
Minister’s Message: Freedom is not what you think

If freedom isn’t what we first think it is, what is it?

This is the Kenai Power complex. The long side of the plant faces the Frank Rowley home, seen here at the right side of the photograph. (Photo courtesy of the Rowley Family)
Let there be light: The electrifying Frank Rowley — Part 1

Frank Rowley made one of the most important steps toward modernization in the history of Kenai.

This cake stacks colored crepes for a brilliant rainbow breakfast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Crepes of a different color

This rainbow cake celebrates Pride with layers of colored crepes.

”Thread of Light” is an acrylic painting done this year by Dan Coe on display through June at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting
Fine art in invented spaces

Anchor Point artist showcases his skills with exhibit of acrylic paintings.

A variety of peony blooms grow vibrantly on Pioneer Avenue on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
6th annual Peony Celebration begins July 1

The festival will run in Homer through Aug. 17.