Sweet November

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Reel Movie Critic.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reel Movie Critic.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2014.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Porn Star"><U>Porn Star</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1939.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prince of Egypt"><U>The Prince of Egypt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1972.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Promises"><U>Promises</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1982.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Punisher"><U>The Punisher</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1925.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Real World Las Vegas: The Complete S"><U>The Real World Las Vegas: The Complete Season (2002-03)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1932.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Respiro"><U>Respiro</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1969.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Right Stuff"><U>The Right Stuff</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1954.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ronin"><U>Ronin</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1927.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rugrats Go Wild"><U>Rugrats Go Wild</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2004.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="See Spot Run"><U>See Spot Run</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1975.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Short Films"><U>Short Films</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1919.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Simpons: The Complete Second Season"><U>The Simpons: The Complete Second Season</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1980.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas"><U>Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2005.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spring Forward"><U>Spring Forward</U></A>   |   <B>Sweet November</B>   |   <A HREF="id1950.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Swimming Pool"><U>Swimming Pool</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2003.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Taboo"><U>Taboo</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Taste of Others"><U>The Taste of Others</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1995.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="T3: Rise of the Machines"><U>T3: Rise of the Machines</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1946.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tattoo"><U>Tattoo</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1935.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ten Commandments"><U>The Ten Commandments</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2009.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time and Tide"><U>Time and Tide</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1953.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="To Live and Die in L.A."><U>To Live and Die in L.A.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2012.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tokyo Olympiad"><U>Tokyo Olympiad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tomcats"><U>Tomcats</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2002.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Too Much Sleep"><U>Too Much Sleep</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1971.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tosca"><U>Tosca</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1976.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Tracker"><U>The Tracker</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1947.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wattstax"><U>Wattstax</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1948.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whale Rider"><U>Whale Rider</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2000.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="When Brenden Met Trudy"><U>When Brenden Met Trudy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1936.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wholly Moses"><U>Wholly Moses</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1986.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wings of Desire"><U>Wings of Desire</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2042.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Woe is I"><U>Woe is I</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2033.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wonderland"><U>Wonderland</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1896.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wrong Turn"><U>Wrong Turn</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <B>Great Web Sites</B></div> <div> <B>Book Reviews</B></div> <div> <B>What's New?</B></div> <div> Current Movie Reviews</div> <div> Future Films</div> <div> Top 10 Box Office</div> <div> New Video Releases</div> <div> <B>Movie Web Sites</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Sweet November</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="751" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 283 WIDTH="745"><div> <B><IMG SRC="397ba140.png" border=0 width="186" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00003CXV4/reelmoviecriticc">DVD from Amazon for $19.99...</A>  </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Sweet November </B>*1/2 (PG-13)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By George O. Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="744" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="740"><div> Theron gets her leading lady role at last</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Sara Deever: Charlize Theron</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Nelson Moss: Keanu Reeves</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Vince: Greg Germann</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Angelica: Lauren Graham</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Manny: Jason Kravits</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Don Watson: L. Peter Callender</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Beatrice: June Lomena</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Neighbor: Jason Isaacs</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Pat O'Connor</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A free spirited woman recycles boyfriends every 30 days. In November, she picks a male centerfold type and they unintentionally fall in love. She has a reason for being so flirtatious and when her secret is revealed, the resulting emotions turn what starts out as a romantic comedy into a tearjerker. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Nelson Moss (Keanu Reeves) is a high-powered advertising executive known for his creativity, drive and hard edge. He's consumed with his work 24/7, so that sex with his girlfriend Angelica (Lauren Graham) is treated like drinking a glass of milk…good, appreciated and soon forgotten. </div> <bR> <div> Driven to win a new account, Nelson creates an ad campaign for the leading maker of hot-dogs, which when first presented goes over wonderfully. However, as the campaign progresses, he goes from being edgy to so over the top the clients declare they cannot accept it.</div> <bR> <div> Before you know it Nelson is out of a job. Shortly before this fiasco at work, a co-worker, Beatrice (June Lomena), reminds Nelson that if he does not go to the DMV to renew his driver's license, the next time he gets stopped, “you'll go to jail and you'll have time for that.” While taking the test at the DMV, which he didn't study for, Nelson asks Sara (Charlize Theron) for help. She replies and Don Watson (L. Peter Callender), the testing clerk, expels her with an admonishment that because she was cheating, she can come back in 30 days to retake the test. </div> <bR> <div> Sara is waiting when Nelson returns to his car and convinces him to give her a ride home. She is a delightfully wacky free spirit, who is soon stalking Nelson. Sara is so bold as to propose to him that she can make him a new and better man if he lives with her for one month…a sweet November. </div> <bR> <div> Since Nelson has lost his job and Angelica has walked out on him, he has time to spend with Sara, if not for a month, at least a good lay for the night. One thing leads to another and a flirtatious and silly relationship turns serious.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Charlize Theron probably took this role in a small picture rather than a summer blockbuster like <I><B>Pearl Harbor</B></I> (she's rumored to have turned down a key role) because it allows her to be the lead actor. By the time summer rolls around this film will be long forgotten. Theron can handle a lead role but she chose the wrong vehicle. </div> <bR> <div> Keanu Reeves has a tough time showing range in his acting, which this role requires. The beginning of the film looks like a comedy, along the lines of <I><B>W</B></I><I><B>hat Women Want </B></I>or <I><B>Family Man.</B></I> By the end, it is supposed to be a tearjerker; and while Charlize Theron gets there, Keanu Reeves is a few laps behind. Movies such as <I><B>The Matrix,</B></I><I><B> The Replacements</B></I><I><B> </B></I>and<I><B> </B></I><I><B>The Gift</B></I> better suit Reeves, as his acting range is not stretched beyond his abilities. My first thought after seeing the film is that it misses the mark because of a weak script, but upon further reflection, I think it was the choice of Reeves as Nelson. Mel Gibson and Nicolas Cage can step into serious dramatic roles as well as action pictures. Keanu Reeves cannot, so perhaps he needs to concentrate on what he does fairly well, and not drag down what otherwise is a good project.</div> <bR> <div> Jason Isaacs is Sara's transvestite neighbor, who does a full 180 degrees from his mean guy role in <I><B>The Patriot.</B></I> As you may recall he was Mel Gibson's archenemy, as the English soldier who killed his children. Although the scenes with Isaacs are funny on their own merit, they made the film's transition from comedy to drama just that much more difficult. </div> <bR> <div> This is a film I wanted to like. But as hard as I try, Keanu Reeves will not let me.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ROWS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> PG-13 (sex; language)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Charlize Theron: <I>Men of Honor</I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Keanu Reeves: <I>The Gift</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Greg Germann: <I>Jesus' Son</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Lauren Graham: <I>One True Thing</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Jason Kravits: <I>Blue Streak</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> L. Peter Callender: <I>Doctor Doolittle</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Jason Isaacs: <I>The Patriot</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Pat O'Connor: <I>Dancing at Lughnasa</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>