November
is a film that really keeps you on your toes. It’s the type of picture that
may confuse you as it’s unfolding, but rest assured, it does make sense by
the end.
In
the drama/thriller, Courtney Cox plays photographer Sophie Jacobs. She’s
happy and in love with her wonderful boyfriend (James LeGros), but suffers from
headaches brought on by a secret that she harbors. Her life takes a drastic turn
when a stop at a convenience store takes a tragic turn.
Cox
does a good job here, playing against type. She’s quiet and restrained and
far less glamorous than she is on Friends. James LeGros is likable as her understanding
boyfriend.
Director
Greg Harrison is an expert craftsmen and November grabbed ahold of me from the
get go with it’s twisty plot structure, varying tones, sharp cinematography,
crisp sound design and crafty editing techniques. While it did have me guessing,
it wasn’t in an annoying, pretentious sort of way, and by the end, I was
surprised and satisfied. It’s kind of a film in the same tradition as Jacob’s
Ladder and The Sixth Sense.
What
really impressed me about November was how good it looked. It was shot in fifteen
days for around $150,000. Proof yet again, that a good movie doesn’t have
to cost $100,000,000 to deliver the goods.
Have
you ever had your life flash before your eyes? November is a film that depicts
that very scenario in a compelling way. This wasn’t one of the big buzz films
of the festival, but that makes it no less striking. Hopefully people will see
it when it hits theaters. It’s really quite good.
