November Criminals

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.

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.

I had a hard time buying into the characters conviction which is what carries the story. It was also slow and at times boring with the storyline.

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.

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.