The November Man

Twelve years on from his last 007 adventure, Pierce Brosnan returns to the world of espionage, playing a retired operative looking for answers after one last mission goes awry. With spectacular car chases, sleazy Eastern European contacts and a mission of revenge, this is a Brosnan-era Bond in all but name. However, the star clearly relishes getting back in the action and delivers an interestingly cold, ruthless antihero who bounds between set pieces with ageless enthusiasm. The plot is a by-the-numbers spy thriller, from the twist-after-twist plot to some rather broadly drawn characters, including fellow Bond alumna Olga Kurylenko's female lead - a target for both the Russian and American governments - and Luke Bracey as Brosnan's rather charmless protegé. Nevertheless, the action is impressive, and follows the Taken format of silver-templed relentlessness. While hardly a revelation, it is a welcome return for the actor to the genre that made him famous.