Sweet November (2001)

A workaholic executive, and an unconventional woman agree to a personal relationship for a short period. In this short period she changes his life.

Director:

Pat O'Connor

Writers:

Herman Raucher, Paul Yurick (story)

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Jason Isaacs

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Nelson Moss
Charlize Theron	...	Sara Deever
Jason Isaacs	...	Chaz Watley
Greg Germann	...	Vince Holland
Liam Aiken	...	Abner
Robert Joy	...	Raeford Dunne
Lauren Graham	...	Angelica
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Brandon / Brandy
Frank Langella	...	Edgar Price
Jason Kravits	...	Manny
Ray Baker	...	Buddy Leach
Tom Bullock	...	Al
Adele Proom	...	Osiris
L. Peter Callender	...	Don Watson, DMV Proctor
June Carryl	...	Beatrice (as June Lomena)

Storyline

The story centers around a man and a woman, whose fates are intertwined and will change forever. Nelson is an avid advertiser living in San Francisco. One day, during a driving test, he meets Sara, a beautiful but seemingly eccentric woman. But, she is falsely accused of cheating and ends up failing the test because of Nelson. After getting kicked out of the exam, Sara waits for him outside and starts to insult him. However, Nelson ignores her and takes off. Then, she traces him down and shows up at his place. She promises to leave him alone only if he gives her a ride. Later that night, she asks him to live with her throughout November on the promise that his life will change for the better. He turns her down saying that he has a girlfriend. On the first day of November, after being fired and dumped on the very same day, Nelson decides to give it a try and then somehow, agrees to spend the whole month with Sara and finds himself in a desperate love affair that he will remember for ...

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Plot Keywords:

advertising | dog | spontaneity | cancer | san francisco california | 

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Taglines:

She Just Needed A Month To Change His Life Forever.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the dogs rescued by Charlize Theron in this film (the one she re-homed and later took back) also played Verdell in As Good as It Gets (1997).

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Goofs

When Sara and Nelson take the dogs to the beach, Sara has three dogs on a leash. Nelson has two. That makes five. They set the dogs free to run and for the rest of the beach scene there are only three dogs.

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Quotes

Sara: You live in a box. I could lift the lid, let some light in.
Nelson Moss: Wow, that's deep! I feel almost cured just hearing it.

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Alternate Versions

In order to get a 'PG-13' instead of a 'R' the scene where Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron are in a bathtub together and some dialogue had to be edited/changed (you don't see how his head goes under water and that she laughs).

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Connections

Remake of Sweet November (1968)

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Soundtracks

My Number
Written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin
Performed by Tegan and Sara
Courtesy of Vapor Records

User Reviews

The script was two dimensional not the acting!

This movie was shown over the free channel last Sunday. I read up on the reviews for preparation to be unbiased and fair to it.

I think the problem with this movie is a tired plot and a terribly two dimensional script. Keanu's and Charlize's performance was what helped to lift it out of a 4/10 rating for me. Jason Issac as a cross dressing flatmate was a heartwarming portrayal of how friendship does not always come in neat little packages hemmed in by our expectations. His loyalty and support for Charlize's Sara was the real cruncher in this movie for me. Nelson's initial shock and reaction on seeing Jason's Chaz in a loud dress was hilarious only because it does mirror the general population's.

The other part of the movie that I find strangely revealing and therefore very endearing, was when Nelson decides Christmas should come a month early for Sara. He pops into her house via the window while everyone is having Thanksgiving and proceeds to give her twelve gifts for Christmas. Each gift and especially the last one, was obviously well thought out in relation to his feelings for her and their relationship throughout that November.

I have read snippets of how Keanu is very fiercely protective, private, very loving and giving as a person to those he cares deeply about and that entire scene made me realize this is less acting the part but more a lingering snapshot of a small part of who he really is.

I have so far watched "Speed", "A Walk in the Clouds" and the "Matrix" Trilogy, all of which showcases Keanu as a leading man. I must say that I do catch glimpses of what looks like the real Keanu popping up every now and then. So it's no wonder that Sandra Bullock should say that she was very taken by the way Keanu looked at her just before he kissed her at the end of "Speed".

I think that many people are quick to rubbish Keanu's acting as wooden because they fail to notice that bit of his soul, often very obviously displayed on the screen, just because it usually isn't displayed on his face.

Enjoy the movie for what it is, a simple love story with a bittersweet ending and you won't be disappointed.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sweet November

Filming Locations:

Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,733,954, 18 February 2001

Gross USA:

$25,288,103

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$65,754,228

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Bel Air Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1