November Criminals (2017) This is a crime drama about college bound friends find themselves falling for one another, but after the mysterious murder of their classmate, they defy the authorities to uncover the truth. The film has been released straight to video on demand, before a limited theatrical release. It stars Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick Ass). These are two of my favorite young actors of today. Viewers had mixed reactions and critics felt it was very thin. Everyone seems to agree it failed to to reach its potential. There simply wasn't any movement in the film. I want to get an understanding of the crime. They failed to give us pieces to the puzzle until nearly the close of the film. This is actually a film that could have been far better with just a little more time. Both the love story and the investigation needed to be beefed up. It would have helped get the viewers more invested. I would have tweaked the ending myself. Not horrible, just weak.
67 Reviews
why is this even called november criminals?
gufi-044294 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The acting game was on point. I also liked this kinda teen vibe the movie gives. But other than that, oh my god. The storyline was not just plain but even ridiculous. Explain this to me. We have this guy and in the beginning of the movie we get the impression that he's a mature intelligent kid with a good taste in music. But then after the homicide of one of his friends, he decides he should get involved with gang members so we could solve the murder. In the whole process it looks like he doesn't realize how hazardous the situation actually is. These gang leaders were constantly point out as this very dangerous guys a person shouldn't mess with. I mean, if it was in real life, they would probably kill him for knowing too much. But in the movie, he just thought he could go meet them and what, they will be like "Hi, sweetie, yeah, just a second, we will give you the name of the person who killed your friend, give us a moment, please"? So, yeah, the whole message the movie gave me was how naive some people can be. And how someone didn't make the effort to put more thought in the film.
Likable cast can't make up for the much ado about nothing story
phd_travel11 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I usually love Chloe Grace Moretz's movies but this one isn't great. There just isn't quite enough of a story. It's a real shame with A list cast members even the supporting cast is good with David Strathairn and Catherine Keener playing parents. Ansel Elgort's acting is a little bit better but that's not saying a whole lot. The romance between the 2 is quite cute but the main story is really nothing much. A high school kid gets involved in finding out who killed a classmate. Don't really feel for the cause since there is no establishing story or plot with the deceased. Later he manages to find out who it is quite easily. The climax or lack thereof was hardly anything. I even wanted some kind of twist.
Not a must watch at all.
Not a must watch at all.
Soporific
MonsieurMS15 November 2018
This had all the makings of a really cute and interesting film. Instead, it managed to take some interesting plots and turn them into pedestrian and boring scenes. There is no pacing, no suspense, no tension. The acting is perfunctory. The directing is routine. Everything is by the numbers. It's a shame, but there just isn't anything here.
Baby Driver turns detective
bkoganbing22 January 2018
Ansel Elgort who scored so well in Baby Driver as the young getaway driver in
that multi-caper film plays the lead here in November Criminals. After losing
his virginity to Chloe Grace Moretz he learns that a friend from school was
shot down execution style on his job in a cafeteria.
It really unnerves him and Elgort is a sensitive kid, college bound and now with a new girlfriend. But he feels that the shooting is going to be put aside and turn cold on the already crime ridden Washington, DC police.
Elgort really ticks off all the authorities, police, educational and even his widowed father. Not to mention the mother of Moretz, Catherine Keener also raising her as a single parent.
In the end he finds out he didn't know the friend he had as well as he thought and it almost costs him his life.
Both Moretz and Elgort are an attractive couple and I'm agreeing with the other reviewer who said he thought they might be an off screen item. They certainly did have good chemistry together.
Look for a nice performance from Danny Flaherty as a former schoolmate of Elgort who has dropped out for the lucrative trade of illegal pharmaceuticals. He looks like he's own best customer. And the shooter Phillip Ettinger is also memorable.
Ansel Elgort could have a big future in the cinema.
It really unnerves him and Elgort is a sensitive kid, college bound and now with a new girlfriend. But he feels that the shooting is going to be put aside and turn cold on the already crime ridden Washington, DC police.
Elgort really ticks off all the authorities, police, educational and even his widowed father. Not to mention the mother of Moretz, Catherine Keener also raising her as a single parent.
In the end he finds out he didn't know the friend he had as well as he thought and it almost costs him his life.
Both Moretz and Elgort are an attractive couple and I'm agreeing with the other reviewer who said he thought they might be an off screen item. They certainly did have good chemistry together.
Look for a nice performance from Danny Flaherty as a former schoolmate of Elgort who has dropped out for the lucrative trade of illegal pharmaceuticals. He looks like he's own best customer. And the shooter Phillip Ettinger is also memorable.
Ansel Elgort could have a big future in the cinema.
There no movie here
willemburgers20 November 2017
There is good acting, there is fine cinematography, and music too. But there is no movie. It's a crazy thing. There is no story. Must have been a writers strike going on and the cast just kept acting and the crew just kept filming, and then the can was full. This movie is good for film school. All the professional capability in the world still can't fill a vacuum. I feel bad for the people who worked on this movie and then they have to show it to friends and family, everybody trying to be polite.
Better than I expected
me-589-1456439 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This isn't the finest piece of film-making you'll see, but it's far from the worst. The cast is small, with Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moretz an ideal pairing for the lead roles.
The story establishes itself quickly and unfolds at a steady pace. The climax should have been sharper, but it's passable. The characters could have been developed more deeply, especially considering there's some history on show that wasn't touched on in sufficient detail for it to be meaningful. Though well handled cinematically (and some would say realistically), the inevitable sexual relationship the lead characters embark on wasn't really necessary in terms of storytelling aside from what was a solid ending. That being said, the writing and directing were adequate, and the cast as a whole didn't disappoint.
If you're looking for a film that skews younger, isn't too long, isn't overly emotional or complex, and gets the basics right in most cases, November Criminals is worth a look.
The story establishes itself quickly and unfolds at a steady pace. The climax should have been sharper, but it's passable. The characters could have been developed more deeply, especially considering there's some history on show that wasn't touched on in sufficient detail for it to be meaningful. Though well handled cinematically (and some would say realistically), the inevitable sexual relationship the lead characters embark on wasn't really necessary in terms of storytelling aside from what was a solid ending. That being said, the writing and directing were adequate, and the cast as a whole didn't disappoint.
If you're looking for a film that skews younger, isn't too long, isn't overly emotional or complex, and gets the basics right in most cases, November Criminals is worth a look.
Is this even a movie
tilak13 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was wondering if this even be called a full featured commercial movie. I got my answer when i explored it on IMDB. There was nothing to explore. I came to know that this is actually a direct to video movie with a very limited ,almost non existent theatrical release(Yawn!!). Actually limited release after the video release(i could not stop laughing!!)
No wonder you can imagine how bad this movie is. Even the makers knew its crap so it went direct to video.
I am confused about the genre of this alleged movie, you can call it anything you like. Its certainly not a thriller/mystery. This movie is more like a film school test movie. Even more surprising is that its based on a novel,which its certainly not. Looks like script writer just read the first few pages and filled the rest on its own. Its an insult to the novel writer. He should file a lawsuit for mentioning his name in the credits.
Biggest problem of this movie is non existent plot. To find the killer all you have to do is ask around and foolishly follow the lead. Never mind if you are dealing with dangerous drug dealers. What's the point, just go around and ask the guy,
" yo dude i am looking for the guy who killed my friend would you be kind enough to tell me who it is. I promise i won't tell anyone that you told me."
Also the sissy guy took her girlfriend to drug dealers place who passed obscene remarks to her girl, but hey we are cool, never mind. Did i mentioned the best part of the movie, our hero use obsolete tech gadgets. A "pager", are you kidding me, who the hell use a pager. For once i thought movie is set in nineties, until her girlfriend pulled out an Iphone. The guy used to be rich so looks like he was cutting costs.
Its a big pile of crap, and lastly i would appreciate if someone could even tell me how the title is even remotely related.
" yo dude i am looking for the guy who killed my friend would you be kind enough to tell me who it is. I promise i won't tell anyone that you told me."
Also the sissy guy took her girlfriend to drug dealers place who passed obscene remarks to her girl, but hey we are cool, never mind. Did i mentioned the best part of the movie, our hero use obsolete tech gadgets. A "pager", are you kidding me, who the hell use a pager. For once i thought movie is set in nineties, until her girlfriend pulled out an Iphone. The guy used to be rich so looks like he was cutting costs.
Its a big pile of crap, and lastly i would appreciate if someone could even tell me how the title is even remotely related.
Not bad, but not great
LetsReviewThat2631 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
November criminals was an alright film, it just wasn't particularly great. I think Ansel e
Got and Chloe moretz are good actors and they do give their roles their best, but it just feels lacking. That's not down to them. It might be the script or just weak character writing. Addison and Phoebe are good friends. Going to highschool but after they leave the local coffee shop, Addison friend David is shot behind the counter. After that he makes it his personal mission to find out why and who killed him. To me the film felt short in that the plot was resolved too quickly like it was rushed. Overall November criminals was alright, just not all that great. Though the actors p
Aged the roles well.
Moretz and Elgort shine in a very fine movie
jtindahouse8 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked 'November Criminals'. There were certain scenes that blew me away how well they were crafted and how impactful they managed to be. The film's strongest quality is undoubtedly the chemistry between its two leads. Chloë Grace Moretz and Ansel Elgort were an absolute pleasure to watch. In fact they were so good I remember thinking to myself at one point that these two must be together in real life because they are just so good together.
It's very clear that this was based on a novel. I didn't know that for sure while watching but I was almost certain, and sure enough turned out to be right. It just has that feel about it. I find that movies based on a novel often have grittier characters who have been through a lot more trauma in their life than characters in screenplays written directly for the screen.
The characters are great, the cast is outstanding and the story is interesting, well paced and though-provoking. It really is hard to find fault with this movie. An already short run time absolutely flies by before you know it. I would thoroughly recommend giving 'November Criminals' a watch.
It's very clear that this was based on a novel. I didn't know that for sure while watching but I was almost certain, and sure enough turned out to be right. It just has that feel about it. I find that movies based on a novel often have grittier characters who have been through a lot more trauma in their life than characters in screenplays written directly for the screen.
The characters are great, the cast is outstanding and the story is interesting, well paced and though-provoking. It really is hard to find fault with this movie. An already short run time absolutely flies by before you know it. I would thoroughly recommend giving 'November Criminals' a watch.
Not that bad.
deloudelouvain11 February 2024
I must be generous when I compare my rating to the others. I was going to give it a seven but my wife thought a five was more appropriate so a six it is then. I agree the movie could have used more action scenes, just to make it more entertaining, but overall the plot is easy to follow and not that bad. As for the acting they all did a good job. Ansel Elgort with his dorky looks wasn't bad and as for Chloë Grace Moretz, that I would qualify as a natural beauty, she always delivers in my humble opinion. I just wonder why they call it November Criminals? I thought about it, couldn't find an answer.
not enough research
natcalgary29 November 2018
This movie could have been so much better if the writer or director or who-ever had done their research. The way the whole "gang" scenes played out felt like it was written by someone who was upper class or just so naive they they don't understand the way gangs work. Too bad because the acting was not that bad..... but didnt feel real enough for me
4.1
4.1
He's not a gang member!
nogodnomasters22 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Addison (Ansel Elgort) and Phoebe (Chloë Grace Moretz) are high school students in the capital area. They are friends, then friends with benefits, then boyfriend/girlfriend...even they didn't know. Addison's mother passed six months ago and he is still dealing with it. A friend of theirs gets shot and the police write it off as gang violence and are too busy to conduct a proper investigation, so Addison takes it upon himself to find the killer. He is way over his head...
Addison doesn't go Liam Neeson all over the bad guys to get information. In fact his constant melancholy state was a real damp rag. He was a complete weenie. He liked Bowie which they managed to work in a few times, but not enough. Rather boring. Generous rating.
The teens are in bed together, no nudity.
Addison doesn't go Liam Neeson all over the bad guys to get information. In fact his constant melancholy state was a real damp rag. He was a complete weenie. He liked Bowie which they managed to work in a few times, but not enough. Rather boring. Generous rating.
The teens are in bed together, no nudity.
Broad appeal
Gordon-116 February 2018
This film tells the story of a young high school boy who is determined to find out who killed his school mate in an execution style shooting.
The high school guy's motive for doing so is explained in the film, but I find it rather unconvincing. Hence, I find the story a bit forced, and that he behaves recklessly and irresponsibly. Fortunately, the story does not concentrate on the hunt for the killer, and has some teenage topics as well. This broadens the film's appeal, and I enjoyed watching it as a result.
The high school guy's motive for doing so is explained in the film, but I find it rather unconvincing. Hence, I find the story a bit forced, and that he behaves recklessly and irresponsibly. Fortunately, the story does not concentrate on the hunt for the killer, and has some teenage topics as well. This broadens the film's appeal, and I enjoyed watching it as a result.
Sweet crime story about letting go
anita-borkamo28 October 2021
Not as good as some people say, not as bad.
buzzellwilliam16 June 2018
Okay, I agree with many of the criticisms posted on here, the plot is thin and unimaginative. But the acting is good- Ansel Eghorn is okay, the others are good. The cinematography is good, even the music is good if somewhat forgettable. A good Saturday afternoon watch, especially if you can pick it up free at the local library.
Watchable high school drama
markjacobsen-495096 February 2024
Dude gets shot in a coffee shop and his mate is disturbed by the assumption he's a gang member. So his mate searches for info to discredit this theory.
Good acting from the two key characters. They both play similar roles they have done before and I would say did a decent job of playing two high school kids starting out to college and how they would react in such a situation. It doesn't paint a very good picture of the police, or the school, or their parents. But I'm guessing that's supposed to be the point of the story. The ending is as good as can be expected with the plot being as it is. I'd give it a watch.
Good acting from the two key characters. They both play similar roles they have done before and I would say did a decent job of playing two high school kids starting out to college and how they would react in such a situation. It doesn't paint a very good picture of the police, or the school, or their parents. But I'm guessing that's supposed to be the point of the story. The ending is as good as can be expected with the plot being as it is. I'd give it a watch.
Let's hope for December
gopiamar-110 November 2017
I thought it would be an intriguing film with the well defined actors and i will be glued to the screen as the the plot was supposed to find the killer.Addison(Ansel Elgort) never did.till the climax.The Director(Sacha Gervasi) completely wasted all the talents in this cinema.that's really a waste of time watching this stupid irrelevant screenplay which never went with the plot.i could agree at a certain point of screen logic.but this fails all the way.just skip it.save your time.The Director(Sacha Gervasi) seems to be from stone age.Either he should get into a film school and learn basics or he should at least learn a few film making skills from watching movies.
Refreshingly different
pwadsworth-552-38352127 July 2020
More Substance in a Trashbag
nammage8 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The main problem this film has is no follow through of any plot or subplot or even character development. And I didn't care one iota for any of the characters because while the film starts on a slow montage-like of the Addison's character loss of his mother; that's the only scene like that. There's no real development of characters; not even the main characters who we're supposed to root for; nothing's really known about anyone. Addison is sad and mopey, then normal and happy, then angry and frustrated. It's turned on/off like he's a psychotic person or something. Or maybe he's schizophrenic. Or maybe his character wasn't developed past the first page of the script. And all the characters are like that. You don't care about any of them because you really don't know anything about any of them.
If one is seeing this as a teenage detective story then I'd dismiss that because it really doesn't kick in until 45 minutes into a 1 hr 25 min film (minus five minutes for credits, 20 minutes; that's 35 minutes to solve the crime of Addison's friend's murder.) I laughed out loud when the character of Phoebe said she needed a break from Addison because "I can't do this anymore." Do what...anymore? It was a five minute scene. The next scene seemed as if Phoebe spends all her time over at Addison's house and that Phoebe sees Addison's father as a 'parent' because Phoebe's mother is upset over it. What? As stated before: how can one get that impression if none of the characters are developed? The film wants us to have that impression.
The film is so rushed. Either there are huge edits in this film and someday they'll have another cut with all the missing scenes or this is just a poorly written, poorly directed film. Sadly, I think it's the latter. You want to see a good teenage detective film, watch "Brick" from 2005. This isn't it. Or read the novel this film is supposedly based on. This film basically ended 1 hr 12 minutes in. What follows afterward is just drawn out fodder until the credits roll.
If one is seeing this as a teenage detective story then I'd dismiss that because it really doesn't kick in until 45 minutes into a 1 hr 25 min film (minus five minutes for credits, 20 minutes; that's 35 minutes to solve the crime of Addison's friend's murder.) I laughed out loud when the character of Phoebe said she needed a break from Addison because "I can't do this anymore." Do what...anymore? It was a five minute scene. The next scene seemed as if Phoebe spends all her time over at Addison's house and that Phoebe sees Addison's father as a 'parent' because Phoebe's mother is upset over it. What? As stated before: how can one get that impression if none of the characters are developed? The film wants us to have that impression.
The film is so rushed. Either there are huge edits in this film and someday they'll have another cut with all the missing scenes or this is just a poorly written, poorly directed film. Sadly, I think it's the latter. You want to see a good teenage detective film, watch "Brick" from 2005. This isn't it. Or read the novel this film is supposedly based on. This film basically ended 1 hr 12 minutes in. What follows afterward is just drawn out fodder until the credits roll.
A very normal film with simple story that is pleasant to watch.
smurfin-mail12 November 2017
This film doesn't have anything flashy in it, it's just normal everyday life, but that normalcy is what makes this film pleasant to watch, it's a slice of life.
Both the lead actor and actress have a good chemistry between them and the background music near the end is very fitting with the scene and gives an euphoric feeling.
Both the lead actor and actress have a good chemistry between them and the background music near the end is very fitting with the scene and gives an euphoric feeling.
What a surprise, gladly!
the-real-demon6 April 2018
Up front I have to admit I was turned down a bit by the low rating and the negative reviews here on imdb but I'm more than glad to give this movie a chance.
To be clear for everyone who might be interested in the movie in general: It is not a crime movie at all. It is not an investigative Liam Neeson movie either. However I would not go as far as calling it a drama overall.
What this movie is though could be placed in the genre of Romance but - let's be honest here - it's a lot more than that. Some reviewers here have pointed out already to how well the two lead characters make up a perfect team to which I like to add that certain sequences in this movie where "this magic" happened pulled me right in, they got me on spot, touched me with every blink of an eye of either Chloe or Ansel.
Whoever of you who like to lose yourself in movies, lose yourself to the subtle, in-between-the-lines emotional movies you are right where you want to be. Those who seek out for a crime or thriller movie won't find their entertainment package with this one.
From me, really enjoying this piece of almost art, I give it a 7 thumbs up and say thank you to everyone who took care of putting the sensitive note into this flick I'm glad watching :)
To be clear for everyone who might be interested in the movie in general: It is not a crime movie at all. It is not an investigative Liam Neeson movie either. However I would not go as far as calling it a drama overall.
What this movie is though could be placed in the genre of Romance but - let's be honest here - it's a lot more than that. Some reviewers here have pointed out already to how well the two lead characters make up a perfect team to which I like to add that certain sequences in this movie where "this magic" happened pulled me right in, they got me on spot, touched me with every blink of an eye of either Chloe or Ansel.
Whoever of you who like to lose yourself in movies, lose yourself to the subtle, in-between-the-lines emotional movies you are right where you want to be. Those who seek out for a crime or thriller movie won't find their entertainment package with this one.
From me, really enjoying this piece of almost art, I give it a 7 thumbs up and say thank you to everyone who took care of putting the sensitive note into this flick I'm glad watching :)
this is horrible... this s a great elementary school project movie
luisms-5687815 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
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