Exceptional work by this cast

“North Country”
Starring: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins
4 stars out of 4


Very few movies have moved me this year; “North Country” is one of those few. There are so many positives for this production under Niki Caro to dish out. Niki Caro isn’t new to the Oscar scene; her teenage lead in 2003’s “Whale Rider” was the youngest girl to ever earn an Oscar nomination. With “North Country”, Charlize Theron has an unbelievable chance to garner her second nomination in three years; her first nomination was taken to the bank as she won for her vicious portrayal of female serial killer Aileen Wournos in “Monster.”

It’s very odd, I hardly want to take credit away from Niki Caro for her earnest depiction of female miners in the late 80’s, but I feel like this was Theron’s show from start to finish, in other words Theron made this film possible with her extensive screen dominance.

You may also not find a better ensemble cast the rest of this year, I can’t decide which cast was better between this and “Crash” but they’re both excellent achievements. Even though I liked “Crash” better, this should have much more going for it come Oscar time, Theron and McDormand should both grab nominations, the fact that this is similar to “Erin Brockovich,” definitely helps it’s chances to snag a best picture nomination, and maybe directing.

Now to the fascinating story, Theron plays Josey Aimes, single mom who can’t even tell her kids who there father is, now that may be because she doesn’t know, or because she’s afraid to tell them, the answer to that question is important in the latter part of the thick running time. Aimes seeks work after leaving her home from her abusive husband, she straps her two kids along who are wiser then they look. Josey unfortunately lives a life where she can come to her parents’ house with bruises, and her father insists that it was her fault for getting beaten. Her past has been filled with negative moments; one most remembered was her pregnancy at the age of 16 which is the reason for her father (Richard Jenkins) to shun her. Josey just wants to get rid of her past and start over with her two kids, first she needs money to buy a house of her own, and pay for it on her own, and take care of her kids…. on her own, we like her so much in this.



Josey’s friend Glory (McDormand) who is currently working at the mines in North Country suggests Josey get a job there and actually earn the money that her dad makes. The mines are no place for a woman to be, everyone in the town knows this, even Josey’s dad, who is embarrassed and ashamed that his only child will be working among him, along with the dozens of ignorant men who destroy the decency of the women daily. One of the men is Bobby Sharp, someone who ignored Josey in high school when she needs him the most, he has no respect for her, but why should he, that is what the mines are made of.

Day by day, each of the 5 or 6 women that are employed are harassed, embarrassed, and the worst thing is working daily in the claustrophobic world of mining in Minnesota. They are even looked down upon by the big wigs of the there company, who give them the chance of resigning immediately instead of filing a sufficient report.

A world is turned upside down for the lonely Josey, whose oldest child has totally turned his back on his mother, she is constantly humiliated in public, for basically anything by anyone, how could a child not hate his mother. The extremely underrated Sean Bean who plays Glory’s husband, has an important scene with her son (Sammy) about how he can hate his mom all he wants, Bean says everything with reason and commitment in this scene and he arranges Sammy to come back home to Josey, with love not hate.

My word counting is nearing 700 and I’m not done yet, I haven’t mentioned Woody Harrelson, no one has mentioned him for years, and he does justice with his fitting role as Josey’s lawyer who guides her through this ferocious landmark case. He tells her straight to her face that he is taking the case just because it’s the first sexual harassment case in history; they both know there is no hope. My writing is reaching such sloppiness at this point, but I was totally blindsided by this emotional ode to brave women who fought for there cause of safety, comfort, and justice.