Reel Critics: ‘November’ the same old month

Roger Donaldson’s credentials for directing spy thrillers goes back to “No Way Out” in 1987. “The Recruit” and “The Bank Job” are among his other fast-paced action films. In “The November Man,” his professional skills add the tension necessary to empower a story with many elements we have seen before.

Pierce Brosnan plays a retired CIA hit man living in Switzerland. He is asked to come out of retirement to assist the agency in one last operation. Old enemies are recycled out of Cold War espionage plots with corrupt Russians as the bad guys. Family and friends are killed, kidnapped or placed in jeopardy to complicate the scenario. Sound familiar?

To his credit, Brosnan plays the role with understated class. He mixes the right amount of intelligence and age-appropriate muscle to make his character believable. His peer opponent is a hard-edged woman assassin. A champion gymnast in real life, she brings a ruthless zeal to the role with real pop and snap to her athletic beat-downs on screen.

As usual, there are clashing loyalties and double crosses along the way. It’s entertaining and well done, even if it’s all been done before.

—John Depko

*

Bury this one ‘Below’

“As Above, So Below” may be the first horror flick filmed on location in the old Paris catacombs, which hold the bones of more than 6 million people. Intensely claustrophobic, it could have been a truly scary thriller but for the schlocky script and nauseating handheld camera work.

A female Indiana Jonestype is determined to find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone somewhere in a secret chamber below the City of Lights. Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) may be beautiful and brainy, but lacks the common sense God gave a cat. Scarlett, wearing a dainty crocheted top and stacked bracelets, plunges through pitch-black tunnels of bones and blood with her small crew. Impractical, yet chic.

Quelle surprise, bad things happen and we jump in our seats once or twice. Scarlett and ancient language/clockmaker expert George (Ben Feldman, recently of “Mad Men”) are full of inscrutable explanations for all the strangeness around them (except Scarlett’s choice of wardrobe).

After a bit, I longed for all to perish there in the gateway to hell, and their “lost footage” could stay lost without the slightest chance of a sequel.

*

‘Ghostbusters’ still worth a call

If you are looking for laughs more ghostly than ghastly, check out the special edition of “Ghostbusters” now in re-release on the big screen.

Writers Dan Aykroyd and the late, great Harold Ramis knew exactly how to bring out the sweetness and fun in co-stars Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson. It’s chock-full of smart and silly one-liners that still make you laugh out loud.

Ghosts and ghost hunters create bedlam and hilarity in jaded New York City, and evil forces threaten the world. The special effects hold up well, right down to the big ‘80s hair and shoulder pads.

“Ghostbusters,” it’s hard to believe you’re now 30 years old. We’re still ready to call you.

—Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.