In North Country, Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand once again demonstrate why they are worthy of being Oscar nominees in a film that is unflinching in its story about the women who brought about the nation’s first class-action sexual-harassment lawsuit.
The movie is a fictionalized account of the events that led up to the lawsuit, and tells the story of Josey Aimes (Theron) – a single mother who moves back to her hometown to start over after she leaves her abusive husband. With little education, she takes a job in one of the iron mines in Minnesota, where her father and best friend (McDormand) also work, and quickly comes face to face with the abuse other female workers have been forced to deal with on a daily basis. The male mine workers view the female workers as a threat to their job security and constantly degrade them with language, name-calling, fondling, and other insults – some of which are downright disgusting.
Aimes decides she has had enough and goes to the mine owner hoping that he will solve the problem. When he turns a deaf ear, she is forced to face even harsher retaliation from her co-workers (including some female workers) for being a “rat.” After a physical attack from one of the male workers, Aimes quits the mine and decides to file a lawsuit for sexual harassment.
Her attorney (played by Woody Harrelson) tells her that she has to find more women willing to go on record so that the suit can become a class-action – which would be the first of its kind. Aimes then faces resistance from the female workers, including a dying McDormand, who are scared of even greater harassment from the male workers or losing their jobs.
During the trial, Aimes’ personal life (she has two children by two different fathers) is put on display causing even greater riffs with her son (who doesn’t know who his father is) and forcing her to re-open past secrets. In the end, Harrelson forces the truth to come out in a scene that is rather predictable and even a bit cheesy.
Theron’s performance proves why she is worthy of Oscar nomination
The cast of the movie, which includes the great Sissy Spacek and Sean Bean, is the strength of the film and what really makes you enjoy watching it. The subject matter is hard to get through, and it makes you wonder who would think this type of behavior was acceptable or even “decent.”
Theron proves why she is a good actress (even if she made Aeon Flux), and why she has already won one of those golden guys named Oscar. She is determined to see the wrongs righted in this film, and doesn’t flinch a bit when her personal sexual history is put on display for the court. Her performance when she discusses the truth behind her son’s father is extremely moving, and hard to watch.
McDormand also demonstrates why she can hold her own against anyone on the screen. I wish she was in the movie more, and she adds some humor to the rough subject early on in the film. Even as she is dying, her performance helps lighten some of the film’s dark tone.
Although the film is extremely good, it does have some faults and the pace drags from time to time. The film’s ending is extremely weak, and seems like something out of an after-school television special. The harassment is also extremely overdone and it is hard to believe any corporation turning that much of a deaf ear to the complaints – even before the time of sexual harassment lawsuits. Still, none of the film’s problems hurt the overall story or the moving performances of the actors.
Aimes takes a legal stand after she is attacked
The DVD comes with some standard special features including a making of documentary, additional scenes, and the film’s theatrical trailer. The making of documentary, Stories From The North Country, features interviews with some of the women involved in the real lawsuit. This does a good job of showing how Aimes was a composite of several of the actual women – some still work in the mine today. It also gives you a detailed background of the true story behind the lawsuit and how long it took to settle.
Overall, North Country is a movie that explores sexual harassment and the evils behind it. It has some great performances from an Oscar winning cast, and is worth watching. Although the film’s subject is a bit dark, and some of the scenes are downright disturbing to watch (they should be), it is worth taking the time. The ending is a bit weak and predictable, but rewarding given everything that has happened – it is based on a true story after all.
North Country is now available at Amazon . It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a June 5th release. Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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