Pierce Brosnan is in fine post-OO7 form in the exciting 2014 spy thriller, THE NOVEMBER MAN. Brosnan stars as Devereaux, a retired CIA operative that finds himself drawn back into one last mission that has very personal ties to the past.
When nearly everything that can go wrong does during the fast paced extraction, Devereaux is thrust into a battle against his former trainee Mason, played by Luke Bracey.
Headstrong, impulsive and impatient, Mason comes after Devereaux with each man knowing how the other thinks. The momentum and power of youth against the wisdom and planning of middle age make for an interesting battle.
Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) is a beautiful woman drawn into the mystery, with very close ties to a missing Russian orphan from the past. That past can bring down the current front runner for leadership in Russia, which brings out top level assassins of all styles.
Bill Smitrovich, who you've seen in 100 supporting roles in TV and movies like "24", Ironman"", "Ted" has a lead role as a CIA chief who straddles the line between good guy and bad guy very effectively. He had us guessing through the whole film.
Brosnan is excellent here, playing a much harder, world-wearied agent than Bond. He's a man who has seen way too much and now values the good things in life. He's willing to risk all to protect the things he loves at all costs.
Director Roger Donaldson (Thirteen Days, Dante's Peak) guides everything along nicely and the stunt men and doubles earn their pay throughout with plenty of explosive action scenes.
It's great to see Brosnan in such great form so many years after giving up his license to kill. His portrayal of Devereaux here is much more dangerous than his suave, comedy-laced years as Bond. Who knew he could be this tough?
The November Man gets a taut and exciting B.
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