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North Country

Webster’s defines harassment as; “to annoy persistently, from Middle French,from harer; to set a dog on”.  Imagine having a dog attack you. Teeth bared, jaws like a vice. Persistent. Not once, but again and again. Not a pleasant thought. Now imagine that happening to you every day at work without fail and without anyone to make it stop. Now imagine it is simply because of your sex.

In North Country, Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) is a single mother of two. A woman who left an abusing husband to return to a home and parents who see her as a black eye on their family and reputation. When she takes a job in the local mines she encounters what most women have faced in our society whenever they have journeyed into “man territory”; full on rejection but a chance to change the world as well. That road is a tough journey as writer Michael Seitzman shows in his screenplay based on the Clara Bingham book. Josey and the other women miners face ridicule and harassment that was surprisingly still common in certain areas in 1984.

North Country is filmed as gray and gritty as the mines and crimes it displays. This bleak style adds to the heaviness of the subject and the
intensity of its overall theme. It is tough to say that this is an enjoyable film. There is nothing pretty about it. But it is a well-done film and a
movie that will move you through different emotions. It will bother you at times with its brutality as it gets the message across.

It is safe to say the cast makes this movie grander than it actually is. Theron will more than likely receive at least a Golden Globe and possibly make it two in a row for best actress Oscar. AS with Monster she is not afraid to get real and unattractive. Frances McDormand would be cheated if she didn't take home another Gold Statue for her performance of Glory, one of the first women in the mines and a vital piece of their victory over persecution. Also adding standout, supporting jobs are Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson and Sissy Spacek.

Unfortunately if you take away the impressive performances you aren't left with much else except maybe an often-overlooked view of the ugly side of man. I give it a very weak three out of five stars.

The Mungle (10/23/05)

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus withhis wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com