SWEET NOVEMBER
US, 2001, 119 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Jason Isaacs, Greg Germann, Liam Aiken, Robert Joy, Lauren Graham, Michael Rosenbaum, Frank Langella.
Directed by Pat, O' Connor.
Originally filmed in 1969 with the most unlikely of romantic starts, Sandy Dennis and Anthony Newly, this is a film about a bittersweet romance between a too busy executive and an oddball woman who is dying of cancer.
It has been updated to 2000 and given higher star power. Keanu Reaves is the advertising executive who shows what self-absorbed looks like. He does not play to his screen presence advantage in dramas like this. He is much more a natural for Speed or The Matrix. The eccentric romantic who wants to transform a man for each month is Charlize Theron. She is much more credible but the part is more than strange.
Could there ever be someone who lived (and died) in this way? (I steal a line from a reviewer friend who said of Sweet November: 'if you have tears to shed, don't prepare to shed them now!' - A bit mean-minded.)
1. Romance, a remake of the 1960s film, the beginning of the 21st century?
2. The city settings, business, offices, apartments, advertising agencies? The vistas of San Francisco? Musical score?
3. Contemporary fairytale? Plausible? Moral? Change?
4. Sarah as a character, extroverted, keeping her illness secret, her idea of companionship in love, sharing the months with an individual, to love and change him? The friendship with Chazz and his roommate? Her room, inviting the monthly man, choosing, the invitation, her experience, love, the catalyst for the man of the month?
5. Nelson, busy, clever, collaboration with his partner, the bosses of the advertising agency, the ads, the details of the campaigns? His skills, tastes, opportunities? Not wasting time? His relationship with Angelica? Seemed to be love – but not on his part? On hers?
6. The driving test, his nervousness and its effect? An interruption to his busy schedule? The encounter with Sarah, the effect, the challenge, still being busy, and her apartment, sharing, the effect on him? Staying, the sexual relationship, love, enabling him to let go, the interactions with his partner, Vince not understanding?
7. Chazz, Sarah’s friend, talking, his protecting her? The date, Chazzand his friend and their cross dressing? As the top adman and Nelson admiring him?
8. Vince, setting up the meeting, the high-powered executive, the discussions, Nelson deciding to reject the proposition? The businessman taking offence? Vince not understanding?
9. Nelson letting go of his life, the romantic aspects, the potential for love? Sarah, her character, oddball, free, the conversations? Her collapse? The truth? Sarah not wanting Nelson to see her die, asking him to go, the farewell?
10. The effect on Nelson and his future?
