North Country - Movie Review ***

North Country(2005) Directed: Niki Caro Written: Michael Seitzman (screenplay) Clara Bingham (book) Genre: Drama Main Cast: Charlize Theron .... Josey Aimes Elle Peterson .... Karen Aimes Thomas Curtis .... Sammy Aimes Frances McDormand .... Glory Sean Bean .... Kyle Woody Harrelson .... Bill White Richard Jenkins .... Hank Aimes Sissy Spacek .... Alice Aimes

North Country

Other critics are failing to see the truth told in this film. I agree that there was a possibility of greatness that was missed in the movie. I'm not sure how that could have been achieved though. Perhaps more touching scenes. Doing so you might have a total 'downer' film. North Country is a solid film very well worth watching.

It is a reminder, especially for women, showing how far and even not far we have come. I saw this movie with a male friend and after bouncing back comments about the film I clearly see how the gender perspective of the film varied. I took more scenes to heart and I think appreciated the movie more. There were many scenes where I heard my self react to that my male friend I don't believe really got the point of the intended statements and/or actions. I give credit to the screen writer and director for recognizing and including them in the film.

The cast on this movie was amazing, three academy award winners. Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek and Frances McDormand perform at their academy winning level. Charlize Theron, scaling back her beauty, not to the extent she did in 'Monster' plays Josey Aimes. A woman that has dealt with many hardships including an abusive husband and still has the courage and rage to fight the entire male dominate community for herself and her unwilling female co-workers.

Plot Summary: When Josey Aimes (Academy Award winner CHARLIZE THERON) returns to her hometown in Northern Minnesota after a failed marriage, she needs a good job. A single mother with two children to support, she turns to the predominant source of employment in the region - the iron mines.

When Josey speaks out against the treatment she and her fellow workers face she is met with resistance - not only from those in power but from a community that doesn't want to hear the truth, her disapproving parents and many of her own colleagues who fear she is only making things worse. In time, even her friendship with Glory will be tested, her already difficult connection with her father, a lifelong miner, will be pushed to its limit and elements of her personal life exposed to scrutiny. The fallout from Josey's battle to make a better future for herself and her children will affect every aspect of her life, including her relationship with her young daughter and her sensitive teenage son, who must first cope with the embarrassment of his mother's sudden notoriety and then face harsh details of her past she was hoping he would never have to know.

Through these struggles Josey will find the courage to stand up for what she believes in - even if that means standing alone.

Inspired by a true story, North Country follows Josey's journey on a road that will take her farther than she ever imagined, ultimately inspiring countless others, and leading to the nation's first-ever class action lawsuit for sexual harassment.