North Country

RATING:

Starring: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sean Bean, Richard Jenkins, Jeremy Renner, Michelle Monaghan, Woody Harrelson, Sissy Spacek. Written by Michael Seitzman. Directed by Niki Caro.

Rated R for sequences involving sexual harassment including violence and dialogue, and for language.

New Zealander director Niki Caro of “Whale Rider” renown returns with another film focused on a female attempting to overcome overwhelming opposition with "North Country". Caro in a fit of brilliant proto-feminism surrounds herself with the talents of 3 Oscar-winning actresses in Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand and Sissy Spacek. It’s an embarrassment of riches, and one gets the idea that 2 entirely different movies focussing on the same set of circumstances could have been made simply by alternating these feminine leads. But Theron is the lead here and we follow her harrowing journey as Josey Aimes, an abused wife and mother who leaves her loutish husband and goes to work at the local iron mine in order to afford a better life for herself and her children. Once there, she and her fellow female workers encounter horrific treatment and pervasive sexual harassment from petty and weak male miners who are threatened by the presence of women and aren’t man enough to face the inevitability of change.

Aimes is portrayed as a woman whose good luck ran out with being born beautiful. Hers is a particularly difficult existence and you wouldn’t wish her life on your worst enemy. She is poor and undereducated. Her husband routinely beats her and her father (Richard Jenkins) wonders aloud if she ‘deserved’ it. That same father and the rest of the town peg her as a trampy, white trash whore because she gave birth in her teenage years and likes to flirt with men from time to time. One of the main qualities of this film is its ability to evoke feelings of frustration so deep you want to scream out at the injustices. Caro and Theron (armed with the screenplay by Michael Weitzman) are extremely capable in presenting this woman that NO ONE is listening to and it can drive you crazy. The plotting and pacing of this film are relentless. The discomfort never lets up and you wonder how much punishment this heroine is going to have to withstand before she either breaks or triumphs. However, if you don’t mind being kind of miserable for about 2 hours and 5 minutes you will be rewarded by some wonderful work by Theron, McDormand, Woody Harrelson (who I don’t get to see enough) and Jeremy Renner (S.W.A.T) playing another perfectly unpleasant individual. (He needs to watch the typecasting going forward.)

This film is based on the true story of workers (women and men) from the Mesabi Iron Range in Northern Minnesota who brought forth the first class action suit against sexual harassment in the workplace. The screenplay is based on the book Class Action: The Story of Lois Jensen and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law. The history in this film is significant but somewhat glossed over. There are allusions to the ramifications of the decision and how it forced companies and corporations to define, describe and enforce a sexual harassment policy within the workplace. But the main crux of this story is the path Aimes must walk in order to obtain her pride and strength, which she can only do once she decides and dares to defend herself.

Theron obviously has quieted all nabobs who thought she was just another former model who was given an acting career based on her looks. Her inhalation and exhalation of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster” made audiences and critics alike stand up and take notice and she more than deserved her Oscar. This performance, while not matching the ferocious intensity of Wuornos is just as strong in its layering. Theron runs the gamut of emotions as a serially abused woman (at home and at work) who finally stands up to her abusers. Even costumed under 5 layers of flannel and questionable hair and makeup, she is glorious in her defiance.

And what can I tell you about Frances McDormand that hasn’t already been said? The second she opens her mouth for her first line of dialogue one is pleasantly reminded of fellow Minnesotan Marge Gunderson from “Fargo” and it’s wonderful hearing her employ the accent again. McDormand evokes good friend and Union Rep Glory with humor and pathos. She has the funniest moments (which are desperately needed here), the hunkiest man in town (Sean Bean), the best lines in the script and she knows it. McDormand is one of those actors whose mere presence in a film elevates that film no matter how good or bad the movie is. Her work along with Theron’s should be remembered come awards season.

Woody Harrelson provides effective support as the attorney who takes Aimes’ case. His work reminds the audience that he was once nominated for an Oscar as well and probably could have won one by now if hemp wasn’t so important in his life. I wish he had more to do in this film. Renner and Jenkins are just the right amount of supremely nasty and yet still believable as human beings. The only performance I had trouble with, I’m sad to report was Sean Bean’s. I never quite bought his truth as Glory’s love Kyle. I heard his natural Irish lilt at war with the North Country patois and he seemed uncomfortable the whole time. Since he seems to be opening a movie every few weeks this year (The Dark, The Island, Flightplan), perhaps Boromir could use a vacation to recharge his professional batteries.

It’s not an easy movie to sit through, but the performances and craft of the film are well worth it. The bleak gray northwestern sky is filmed at pale odds with the stark cold reality of ice, snow and steel. How can compassion and humanity (or anything else) grow here? Neither Caro nor the script takes the easy way out. All of the men aren’t jerks and all of the women aren’t Norma Rae. Caro takes great care with these simple characters confronting the complex quagmire that is sexual harassment. The audience will identify with these average blue collar Janes and Joes who become extraordinary enough to make history on their way to work.