North Country Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
All She Wanted Was To Make A Living. Instead She Made History.
A semi-fictionalized account of a long legal battle of group of women miners who endured a hostile work environment and numerous and continuous insults and unwanted touching when they became the first women to go work at the Eveleth Mines in Minnesota.
| Charlize Theron | Josey Aimes |
| Elle Peterson | Karen Aimes |
| Thomas Curtis | Sammy Aimes |
| Frances McDormand | Glory |
| Sean Bean | Kyle |
| Woody Harrelson | Bill White |
| Jeremy Renner | Bobby Sharp |
| Richard Jenkins | Hank Aimes |
| Sissy Spacek | Alice Aimes |
| James Cada | Don Pearson |
| Rusty Schwimmer | Big Betty |
| Linda Emond | Leslie Conlin |
| Michelle Monaghan | Sherry |
| Brad William Henke | Lattavansky |
| Jillian Armenante | Peg |
| Niki Caro |
7.20 out of 10 (8291 votes)
Visitor Reviews
wonderfully emotional
posted on 14 Aug 2009North Country The movie North Country is a wonderfully emotional movie about a woman and her struggles for equality which ended up changing history. Charlize Theron plays Josie Aimes; one of the first women hired to work in an iron mine along side men. Her presence and the presence of her female peers was not welcomed and they showed this through harassment and assault. After months of this abuse Josie decided that it needed to stop. She hired a lawyer and fought back, for her rights and the rights of every other woman. This movie is based on a true story which helped to push equality for women in the right direction; the sad thing is that it took place only twenty years ago.
great from beginning to end
posted on 08 Aug 2009I'm usually not a fan of movies that talk about "the power of women" and that kind of thing, but this movie isn't so much about the power of women but the power of many. This film was gripping, (throughout) tragic (in some parts) and beautiful (in others). The scene where she is raped by her teacher is not at all graphic, but the actress playing her young self gave a haunting and memorable performance, which is sure to resonate with people who have been in similar situations. Each member of the cast gave stunning performances, Ms. Theron in particular. I'm not too familiar with Sissy Spaceck, but she was also very good. The boy who played her son gave a bit of a one-note performance, but his character wasn't very well written either, I thought. Other than that, "North Country" was a great film which taught me a lot about a subject I didn't really know much about. Although it's only rated 14 in Canada, where I live, I don't think anyone under 16 should watch this film. Not because of the sexual content itself, but because of the emotionally draining quality of the sexual content. If I had my way, they would show this movie to grade 12 classes and educate them on what it used to be like for women, but I don't think that'll ever happen. Anyway, this is a great film that really stays with you. The soundtrack is excellent. Bob Dylan is a very fitting choice as he is pretty much the ultimate anti-establishment figure. I would recommend this film for the serious moviegoer.
A Good Film, But At Times It Relies Too Much On Shock Value Instead Of Characters
posted on 03 Aug 2009MOVIE: North Country is a film that digs deep and reaches the audience, but just barely. We have Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) who has just left her abusive husband, has taken her two children, and has gone to live with her parents. One evening at dinner the topic of jobs comes up, and Josey wants to work so that she can support herself and her kids. She ends up working at the mines up there in Minnesota, which is also where her father works. The moment she starts her orientation the sexist comments from the male workers start flying. This is where the film spends most of its time, the treatment of the women in the workplace. This is also where the film makes its impact on the audience, however this is a cheap attempt by the filmmakers. We have this formulaic story that needs to connect with the audience and it does on a few levels. A mother, who is homeless, with two kids, and is trying to get back on her feet. I think the film should have spent more time on the lawsuit that Josey files on the mine company for sexual harassment instead of the poor treatment of the female workers. I feel like that this film was originally set out to be made in order to put emphasis on the first sexual harassment case to start the equal treatment of women in the workplace. Instead it became a film about "all men are pigs and are evil". Well, that's the message I got from it. The majority of the film we see the men writing obscene words in feces all over the women's locker room. They put dildos in their lunchboxes, tip them over while they are in the portable bathrooms, call out names, and in an extreme case ejaculate all over their belongings in their lockers. This is some nasty stuff, I mean, just really bad stuff. All these things sort of distract the viewer from the real cause of the movie, which is one woman's personal journey. We all know what happens in the end, she wins the case, and there is a cliched scene in the courtroom where the judge calls for more people to be on Josey's side for this to be a class action lawsuit, and then one person at a time stands up in defense for Josey. It starts off on the right track, loses it in the middle, and seems to find its way back at the end.
ACTING: All the acting is respectable in this film. Charlize Theron gives a stellar performance and she carries the film well. Frances McDormand does an amazing job as well and I wouldn't be surprised to see her name in the supporting actress category, but that would be a longshot. The rest of the cast does a commendable job, and the acting is the real highlight of the film.
BOTTOM LINE: Niki Caro, who directed Whale Rider, sets the right tone for the film. The color tones and cinematography are beautiful. However, the script spends too much time in the wrong place. Great acting moves the film along, but in the end it feels like it was a lecture. Also, as a male viewer, I just got the message that all men are sexist pigs, which isn't gonna sit well for a wide audience.
Kind of a tear-jerker
posted on 03 Aug 2009While noble in intent, this portrayal of a woman's struggles in the iron mines of northern Minnesota loses something in the realism department by casting the glamorous Charlize Theron in the lead role. Anyone who looked like her simply had to load her pickup truck and move to California, Florida or elsewhere to find better jobs. Still, this message movie is pretty well done, and Frances McDormand is great, as always. The accents are realistic, and the men are, too. Watch it.
Yet another good film idea spoiled by Hollywood
posted on 02 Aug 2009I'll give four stars for some good acting, particularly that of Charlize Theron and especially Woody Harrelson. You can look at the other reviews for plot summaries, etc.,... all I'll say is, the tendency in typical contemporary Hollywood movies to exaggerate and over dramatize is nothing new. Unfortunately, it's always at the expense of balance and believability. It's the popular trade-off for many mainstream Hollywood filmmakers (and apparently viewers). I don't get it- perhaps someone could email me your thoughts on this.The film is essentially two stories: Theron's struggle for happiness (financial and otherwise) for her and her kids; and her struggles at her job. Once the sexual harassment plot starts to pick up, that's when the film starts to sink. Film clichés and the usual over dramatics start to seemingly filter all believability out of the story.I love movies, I believe in the power of movies, but it's a shame how many filmmakers bow to the little gold statue.
Powerful and Moving
posted on 25 Jul 2009By the time the moving credits rolls, this film will have moved you, educated you, taught you, and hopefully shown you what an important piece of narrative history it is. What it also brings to life is some of the best acting ever seen in both individual and collective modes. The film stars Charlize Theron in her second outstanding turn as a woman who faces incredible odds in a male-dominated society and tries her best to find a solution to her problems. Providing solid support are Sean Bean, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, and Richard Jenkins in the most important supporting roles. It must also be made clear that everyone involved in the production does impeccable work, from the rest of the cast to the technical team that recreates a not-too distant period. At the helm of this superb movie is Nikki Caro, in her second major directorial effort. She gave us "Whale Rider" and took us into a world few people knew existed. This time we're in the middle of a part of America few would like to remember.Charlize Theron does wonderful work in this film. Once again, her eyes command the screen and broadcast a range of emotions ranging from utter sadness to overpowering angry frustration. Her character presents how a human being must endure humiliation from her peers and confront despicable situations without much support. In the film, Theron delivers the lines in a very realistic manner, without emphasizing the drama as much as portraying it. Caro's camera captures her mannerisms, her expressive eyes, her fine interactions with McDormand and Harrelson. She has a difficult role because her character is not supposed to be experienced, but it is mostly a reactive one. She overcomes this position and shines in her portrayal of the miner who must go against traditions and find a way to seek justice.It has been a long time since an American film has shown themes with these much power, without sounding self-important and didactic. The film educates because it reaches the sense of justice in all of us. It understands our fears, our hesitation at fighting back when there is little chance to win, or there is too much intimidation in the game. The film treats us with respect, presents a point, finds a way to let us witness tragic moments and allows us to digest the drama, without having stilted writing, plodding direction, or being compromised by simplified Hollywood marketing decisions that neuter and compromise the heart of previous attempts at this type social films. Caro understands the sensitivities of women and their interactions with other members of society. All performances in thefilm are the result of a director knowing her material, being able towork with seasoned performers and understand how important it is to show the truth above all.There are many moving moments in the movie, but it is important not too reveal them. Instead, the audience should be allowed to experience and learn from on their own. Be warned, there are some truly powerful scenes in this film and people will not believe their eyes. Caro could have stayed away from showing some. She would have lessened the impact of it. As it is, "North Country" is as close to perfection as a movie can be.
Fine movie. Tailored for Oscar. May be too tight a fit.
posted on 25 Jul 2009North Country is exactly as advertised. Extraordinarily well acted, directed, and scripted (though dry here and there, which isn't a problem). It's inspiring and shows off the kind of single-woman strength that make movies like Erin Brockovich/Norma Rae/Etc so ball busting and enjoyable. That said, it's very on the nose, very "look at me." Like the entire movie was put together to satisfy the necessary Oscar categories. On certain speeches you can physically anticipate and even feel the pull back to reveal an actor, seated, hands folded, awaiting "and the Oscar goes to." This is by no means a problem. Just worth noting, because it's desperately obvious. Thankfully it's also an excellent movie. Doesn't have many flaws, save maybe run time and the many many many femullets. Absolutely worth seeing some time this award season. Just know that you're gonna get hit in the face with Oscar-worthiness.
(3.5 STARS) Inspirational Story, Strong Performances from the Cast, But the Courtroom Scenes Are Ineffective
posted on 20 Jul 2009`North Country' is not the first socially conscious film that features an inspirational story about a woman who stands up for her right. We know `Norma Rae' and more recently `Erin Brockovich' (both of which brought deserved Oscar to the leading ladies). I don't know `North Country' can do the same for Charlize Theron. But her acting proves that without special make-up (as she did in `Monster'), she can really act and move our heart.
Not that the film is flawless. The story is inspired by true events (especially one 1984 lawsuit), but the approach of director Niki Caro (`Whale Rider') is often too melodramatic to take the story as it is. But the main story about Josey Aimes is as strong as the Maori girl we all loved.
The story is about Josey Aimes (Theron) working for a local taconite mine company in Minnesota, who, together with other female workers, had been constantly harassed sexually by some of the male workers. The acting of Theron (and anyone in the film) is convincing enough to make us feel the pains of the humiliated females. And to experience them is often nerve-shattering.
Theron leads the ensemble cast that includes Frances McDormand, Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson, Jeremy Renner, Richard Jenkins, and Sissy Spacek. We must give due credit to Niki Caro who extracted the best performances from them. We have been accustomed to seeing the superb acting from Frances McDormand who is always excellent, but if you see usually typecast Sean Bean showing the depth of the character, it is really surprising.
So far, the film is great. But there are two more stories in the film-one about the high schooldays of Josey, and the other is about the courtroom drama about her lawsuit. Sorry if I sound too harsh, but none of them works. I cannot write the details of these stories, but I can say this. The judge of this film allows Josey's lawyer to employ highly irregular method of proving one important fact, very theatrical method last time seen in `A Few Good Men.'
More regrettable thing is this. Everything that the defense attorney (who is supposed to be good enough to be hired by a big company) does is incredibly stupid. She summons a witness while she doesn't need it; she storms into a hospital room while all she has to do is to wait. And don't forget her expensive suit, clichéd image of icy female lawyer, which totally undermines the impact of the real events.
As far as the acting and the important story about Josey who fights for justice, `North Country' deserves genuine admiration. But the film tells not much about anything else, such as the background about the male workers' hostility, or other female workers' views on the job. Instead, the film spends more time telling melodramatic accounts of the lawsuit which are, I believe, not what really happened. The film is strong and persuasive, but could be more so with a better script.
Didn't Know When to Stop
posted on 17 Jul 2009Here in Minnesota the case was pretty hight profile. Obviously, these women endured some really nasty stuff. We are brought inside the situation. It's hard to believe that a large group of people wouldn't at least be afraid of forces that had already been put in place. It's a good story and Theron holds it together. The problem is that it gets so maudlin at the end that all that good storytelling seems to slip into a vacuum. Corn was OK in the 1940's, but contemporary audiences have an awareness that makes this seem really saccharine. I'd be interested to see how much of the the last quarter of the film actually happened. Were the miners as monstrous as portrayed? I guess one would have to go back to the trial accounts. Theron's character was certainly the wrong one to mess with. It would be interesting to see how the taconite industry is doing and what sort of employees are still there working.
Portrays the discriminations of being a woman
posted on 13 Jul 2009This movie really tells how women had it back in the 70's and so on. Charlize Theron did a wonderful job playing a woman who has a had a not so great life, her husband abused her, her son doesn't like her for no apparent reason, and the men at her coal mine are cruel to all the women there, including her.This move is a must-see, it will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole movie, it will leave you wondering what will happen next, and maybe people can now see how hard women had it the working force 20 years ago.Terrific....I have to give this an 8/10.
sally field?
posted on 11 Jul 2009Did anyone else notice what a strong resemblance Charlize Therons performance is to Sally Fields role in Norma Rae, in that a seemingly quiet woman rises up to challenge work place adversity? Just like Fields role, this movie is based on a true incident. And it is also very well acted! I bet Frances McDormand will get Best Supporting Actress for this film. Again very well acted! I also hope Theron is also nominated for Best Actress.Also, why can't IMDb let people post comments of less than 10 lines??? Some people make short comments.Why is that a problem for IMDb???????????????????
One of those instances where a heavy hand would have been welcome...
posted on 04 Jul 2009It's true that `North Country' sports a weighty message; but it is also true, very true, that for the most part that heavy message manages to feel light. A lot of directors struggle with finding a balance between sentiment and saccharine; between weighty importance and muddy self-importance. Some directors have made a career out of defining this genre or brand of drama (take Ron Howard and Penny Marshall for instance) and yet still others have attempted and failed at the very same feat. In this regard, director Niki Caro succeeds; to an extent.
`North Country' never feels too thick.
The film tells the true story (or at least the parts they want to tell) of a young woman pushed the brink of her tolerance who is eventually forced to take action against those persecuting her. Josey Aimes has had a bad life. She got pregnant while still in high school, has pretty much been disowned by her father and has just left her abusive husband, toting her two young children back to mom and dads house. In an attempt to get her life in order she takes a job up at the mine, doing man's work, and quickly finds that the abuse she faces at the workplace is just as severe and almost more degrading than anything she faced with her ex-husband. As she struggles through each and every day of work she comes home to a family that shuns her, a son that hates her, a father that blames her for everything and a town that is growing tired of her complaints. She has no where to turn, but when things get too extreme on the workfront she decides to take the matter to the courts.
The true story that inspired this film is truly groundbreaking for it managed to pave the way for better work environments for women and men alike. This is a very important story to tell, and for the most part the story is told well.
My only issue with `North Country' is that at times it felt overly simple. It was just this feeling I got while watching the majority of the film; this feeling that there had to be more to this story. It kind of felt a little like a television movie, like a lifetime movie even. It was weighty yet felt airy in many scenes and that feeling tended to drag on for some time. The film picked up major pace as the inevitable conclusion came peering around the corner, and the courtroom scenes and flashbacks that fill in a few gaps are startling and heartbreaking, but they feel almost like too little too late. The film tries to serve up sentiment with the side story of Glory, Josey's friend, and her illness but it feels like just that, a side story.
The acting is generally very good and at times even great. A lot of people claim that Charlize Theron's Oscar nomination was ridiculous and undeserved, but I actually found her performance to be utterly unforgettable. My only wish is that she had held on to her accent throughout the entire film. There are some scenes (particularly with McDormand, who we know has perfected the accent from `Fargo') where her accent is spot on perfection, and if she had held it in every scene then her performance may even rival her Oscar winning `Monster' perf. The rest of the acting is good; Richard Jenkins, Sean Bean and Woody Harrelson serving up the best performances in the bunch. Jeremy Renner is convincing as the sleaze-ball town slacker and Sissy Spacek is touching as Josey's concerned mother. I have to say that I love Frances McDormand, but her performance is nothing special. She has an illness and the Academy obviously went crazy for that, but her nomination seemed kind of lazy to me, especially when you consider all of the actresses who delivered brilliant performances that same year (Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scarlett Johansson). She is effective, but not award worthy.
In the end I have to say that `North Country' is a good film, but it could have been better. It is an important film, but the message would feel even more resonant if the delivery had been a little better. Definitely see this movie, but don't expect a film that is as groundbreaking as the real life story that inspired it.
Out-of-Focus Fictionalized Account of Landmark Sexual Harassment Case.
posted on 30 Jun 2009"North Country" is a fictionalization of the events surrounding the United States' first class action sexual harassment law suit, which was filed in 1984 and not resolved until 1998. The real case was Jenson vs. Eveleth Taconite Mines. Lois Jenson was one of the first women hired by Eveleth mines, in the Mesabi Iron Range of Northern Minnesota, in 1975 after the company was forced by judicial mandate to hire women. Ms. Jenson and other female employees endured years of threats, assault, and humiliation at the hands of some of their co-workers, a situation exacerbated by layoffs that allowed women with seniority to keep jobs while men with less seniority lost them. When Lois Jenson et al took their employer to court in an attempt to force Eveleth to create a sexual harassment policy, they were further abused by the judicial system that allowed the defense to subpoena their medical records and full sexual histories, as if that were relevant to workplace grievances. After 3 trials and more than a decade, the women prevailed, and Eveleth adopted a sexual harassment policy.
The characters in "North Country" are composites and fictionalized versions of real characters. We see Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron), a character loosely based on Lois Jenson, recall her experiences at the mine as she takes the stand during a sexual harassment trial. The narrative shifts back and forth from a courtroom to the mines, from the characters' present to their past. Josey is a single mother of 2 children who recently left her abusive husband and moved in with her parents. She runs into an old friend, Glory (Frances McDormand), who is a worker and union rep at Pearson Taconite & Steel. Glory encourages Josey to apply for a job there, where she'll be able to make enough money to get on her feet. Josey is elated to be financially independent for the first time in her life but doesn't know how long she can take the verbal and physical abuse by some of her male co-workers.
"North Country" tries to tell the story of Josey Aimes, a mildly sympathetic woman with a suspiciously extensive history of sexual victimhood, when it should be telling the story of women miners, union politics, and what the plaintiffs endured to bring their sexual harrassment suit to trial. The examples of harassment that we see don't make much of an impression. They are bad treatment, to be sure, but they lack context that would give them political or emotional impact. Instead of delving into that, "North Country" plunges into Josey's family: her disapproving father, coldly sympathetic mother, and practically estranged son. It's all conspicuously contrived, not the slightest bit credible, and it directs our focus 180 degrees from where it should be. This is a bad script, reminiscent of a television "movie of the week". And that's unfortunate, because there is a more interesting story to be gleaned from the experiences of the women who took on Eveleth Mines' callous disregard for their treatment. If you're really interested, the book written about the Jenson vs. Eveleth case is "Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case that Changed Sexual Harassment Law" (2002) by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Ganster.
The DVD (Warner Brothers 2006): Bonus features include 9 deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer (2 ½ min), and "Stories from North Country", which features interviews with director Niki Caro, the film's cast and 3 of the women from the Eveleth case: Lois Jenson, Diane Hodge, and Joan Hunholz. Subtitles for the film are available in English, French, and Spanish. Dubbing is available in French.
Tedious and Endless
posted on 26 Jun 2009This film presents an interesting but sad story about female miners who were living in an impossible situation in Northern Minnesota mine country. However, the presentation of the fact that these women were constantly hassled on their jobs and in their community is way overdone. And nearly every single male character in the movie is portrayed as vulgar and evil, with the exception of one miner's husband and the lawyer who takes the harrassment case to court.
This movie tedious and neverending, and much of the dialoge is so "movie of the week." Skip it.
A Powerful, Compelling Movie
posted on 23 Jun 2009North Country is "Erin Brockovich" times five. This is a powerful, compelling movie that is solid, hard-edged, and penetrating to the core of important social issues today. From domestic violence, sexual harassment, to sexual stereotypes, to dysfunctional families, to parent-child relationships, this movie is one of the most incredible movies to come out in many, many years. If it had been nominated for best picture in 2000 when "Erin Brockovich" lost to "Gladiator," it is likely that it would have an good chance of winning. This is a superlative movie with great acting, strong performances, and wonderful, intimate, and emotional tough script that powers home. Except for a weak and unnecessary final scene, this movie seems perfect in all its elements. Nine out of Ten Stars.
A case study on women's rights
posted on 22 Jun 2009Women, for the most part, have faced some major problems during the first half of the 20th century (including events that occurred beforehand & certain situations that continue to thrive even in today's world). Some of these problems include suffrage, second-class citizenship & job security - the latter subject being the primary focus of "North Country". The movie deals with a group of working-class women facing an upheaval struggle while working at a Minnesota factory. The discrimination these women encounter is apparent throughout the film, & is captured beautifully & theatrically, leaving no stone unturned. The sexual harassment premise will leave the average viewer on the edge of their seat, leaving one to ponder the fate of these women on the road to nowhere, with a slimmering ray of hope off somewhere in the distance. Featuring outstanding performances from both Charlize Theron (as a lead worker & advocate of conditions in the workplace) & Frances McDormand (as a worker later debilitated as a result of the plant's negligence), "North Country" has enough stamina to maintain a continual flow of dramatic nuances to keep one from falling asleep at anytime during the run of the picture. Kudos to Woody Harrelson (as an attorney) for providing one of the film's most upstanding displays of character, & a rather moving portrayal at that. Based on actual events, "North Country" could very well be in the running for earning some serious hardware at award ceremonies before 2005 is history. The soundtrack is not to be taken lightly, either - featuring songs by the likes of Bob Dylan (a Minnesota native) & various other musical artists which deserve more than honorable mention raves. This is one movie that's destined to be in one's all-important DVD library, that's for certain!
Tearjerker
posted on 15 Jun 2009This relentless downer is redeemed only in part by good photography and a great score (okay, I'm a Dylan fan; for me, this worked). Theron is good--as always--but is here given a far too weepy script. McDormand, also reliably good, is given a caricature, not a character. With such strictures, they really deserved awards for perseverance against extreme odds. Woody Harrelson as the plaintiff attorney is a complete joke; what were they thinking? Virtually every other role was two-dimensional and the performances phoned in. The word "predictable" came to mind in scene after scene, except those in the courtroom at the end. These were unpredictable because they utterly lacked credibility, even more than virtually all other Hollywood-conceived courtroom scenes (admittedly, real courtroom behavior is far too boring to be faithfully represented).
It's Not Over Until The (Gender Neutral) Person Sings
posted on 15 Jun 2009Once again lying on the couch with a migraine, I decide this was the film to watch instead of that 1960's poorly filmed mishmash of "a funny thing happened to me on the way..." on TCM. I'm not sure which would have been easier on my headache.Having recently worked for a high tech company, here in enlightened Silicon Valley, where the salesmen take down the nude pictures only if you suggest that a customer might be offended, I found the film moving, gripping, and very believable. I've also heard a female manager - in the past year - respond during personnel harassment training that "women just have no sense of humour anymore." So I found the conflicted feelings of the women involved understandable. The topic of the film was quite contemporary for me.Had it not been, this would seriously reek of the Lifetype victim channel. We don't usually get to see actors of this caliber unless they're just starting out (poor Charlize just has to get herself all grimy to get taken seriously, and it is working - her talent is starting to glow through that mullet) on the movie of the week, or have such high production values (nice mine equipment), but this is the type of topic ("I married my rapist," "My lover died, leaving me with nothing" "my husband stalked me" "I was harassed at the office"....) on which that channel thrives.And the story, as told, had some issues. Dad making that speech in front of the union - and the members suddenly turn supportive. That's real life for you. That handy moment when Woody Harrelson, in spite of the judge and opposing counsel, browbeats the truth out of Jeremy Renner's character. Handy way to tie up THAT important loose end quickly. Apparently it was all that we were going to see tied up, because we didn't get to see the victory (dance) or settlement.And I'm not sure I feel that great about the "more importantly," preachy note at the tail end of the movie. Did every plaintiff in the class action feel they didn't need nice punitive damages and instead wanted the symbolic victory of a documented harassment policy? Some of those plaintiffs looked like they hadn't had a square meal in some time, and they had certainly put up with enough threats and downright attacks to earn some retribution.So I didn't find the movie satisfying or completely on target. I did find it interesting and believable. And maybe I'll see it again on Lifetime soon.
Nothing more than spoon-fed, hack-kneed preaching
posted on 14 Jun 2009First of all, I must preface this review by noting that I am not a political conservative for the most part. I am a registered independeent, In the last election, I voted 3/4ths for democrats, and 1/4th for republicans.
My primarly complaint with this film is the same that I had with the last decade's 'Norma Rae' - 'Erin Brokovich' - it is artistically and thematically nothing more than a second-rate TV-movie-of-the-week. There is nothing uniquely compelling about the direction or the acting. The only thing that is subtle about the film is Charlize Theron's accent. But make no mistake, it will get Oscar nominations only because of the liberal bent of the film and the Oscar voters.
As a piece of social commentary (which can be expected from a documentary director), I can appreciate films that challenge my assumptions. But I do NOT appreciate THIS film, that paints the issue of sexual harassment in such black-and-white terms. The film more than suggests that it is short step from males simply joking about differences between the sexes to outright rape. In fact, one might come away with the impression that ALL men are morally reprehensible (unless they are being paid to be your attorney) and ALL women are fundamentally spinelss (unless your name is Josey, Erin, or Norma).
The director says she is not a feminist and the film is just a story that "has not yet been told", but based on "Whale Rider" and this film as her only representative contributions to popular film, she is obviously wrong on both counts. All in all, this film is NOT groundbreaking at all - it is just a bunch of cheerleading for political correctness - the modern version of the "moral majority."
The fact that this film is supposed to be "based on a true story" does not excuse its faults. Even in the best of biopics, the "truth" ALWAYS gets lost in the screenplay anyway. But for a film that covers the issue with the necessary and realistic degree of subtelty and balance that is NOT based on a true story, I recommend 'Oleana' by David Mamet instead.
good intentions, plodding drama
posted on 22 Aug 2009If "North Country" didn't say that it was set in 1989, you'd never believe it based on the attitudes and behavior of its male characters, which can only be classified as "Neanderthal" (though that might be an insult to Neanderthals). And, indeed, you would be right NOT to believe it, for the events on which the film is based actually began in 1975, a full decade and a half before the time of the movie. The drama seems to have been moved forward in time to accommodate footage of the Clarence Thomas Senate hearings of 1991 - images that play continually in the background as some sort of running commentary on the foreground action of the movie. It's a sleight-of-hand maneuver that doesn't do much to enhance the verisimilitude of the movie.With Charlize Theron once again ugly-ing herself up for great drama, "North Country" tells the true but highly fictionalized story of Lois Jensen (here referred to as Josie Aimes), a battered welfare mother with two children who takes a job in a northern Minnesota steel mine, only to find it to be a veritable hell hole of unbridled misogyny and sexual harassment. Here are guys who are so chauvinistic in their view and treatment of women that they make Henry Higgins look like Alan Alda in comparison. When she attempts to take a stand against the outrages perpetrated against her and the other women there, Aimes finds little support from either the bigwigs at the plant, the unenlightened townsfolk, or even her own female co-workers who have been terrorized into silence in order to keep their jobs. Eventually, she manages to file a class action lawsuit against the mine (in 1988, actually, a full three years before the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill spectacle), resulting in a landmark decision for sexual harassment laws around the country.There is no doubt that the issue of gender equity in the workplace is a serious and important one, but "North Country" feels strangely out-of-date and lacking in vitality in an age in which sexual harassment laws have become common place in the business world (yes, I realize that this film is showing us how such laws eventually came to be, but that still doesn't make it a fresh topic for a contemporary movie). Moreover, "North Country" can't quite shake that air of stultifying self-importance that too often infuses dramas dealing with serious social issues. As a result, the film is often plodding in its pacing and obvious in its theme, with the characters falling a bit too neatly into hero, villain and victim molds with very little shading in between. Despite its good intentions and its being based on a true story, the film is riddled with push button feel-good moments and implausible instant conversions - and damned if the whole thing doesn't have the look and feel of a Lifetime original movie, just with higher priced stars in its cast (Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sissy Spacek, and Richard Jenkins, the dead father from "Six Feet Under"). And while the acting is decent, the suffocating nature of the drama inhibits most of the performers from breaking out and really having a go at their characters.Perhaps it's just that after movies like "Norma Rae," "Silkwood," and "Erin Brockovich," which could really make one care about the people and the issues they raised, "North Country" comes up a day late and a dollar short in the I-am-woman-hear-me-roar department.