'North Country': Theron digs into abused miner role
Palm Beach Post
Wooed to Hollywood after making the exceptional New Zealand folk lore fable, Whale Rider, director Niki Caro handles the transition to a larger canvas and bigger budget well in North Country, a by-the-numbers story of sexual harassment and female empowerment.
Warner Brothers Pictures
B- The verdict: A fictionalized tale of workplace injustice righted, with a fine performance by Theron. Director: Niki Caro On the web |
||
Although there are the usual false notes in bringing an untidy true tale to the screen and making it conform to formula, Caro draws impressive performances from her cast, notably Charlize Theron as the woman who stands up to the male-dominated mining industry.
The Oscar-winning actress (Monster) again chooses a deglamorized role, that of single mother Josey Aimes, who leaves her physically abusive mate and moves back in with her parents in blue-collar Minnesota, where she pushes her way into a hard labor job at the local mine.
Comparisons to Norma Rae or Erin Brockovich seem inevitable, as Josey accepts the hostility of the other miners for so long, then fights back in court and wins a class-action suit against the fictionalized mining company.
Though it covers familiar territory, North Country manages it effectively. Still, screenwriter Michael Seitzman overloads Josey's character with too much personal history.
She is encouraged to work in the mine by a forklift operator (Frances McDormand, affecting her Fargo accent) whose occupational arthritis turns into Lou Gehrig's disease.
Go to North Country for Theron's performance, which levitates above the screenplay's excesses. Sissy Spacek has a few good moments as Josey's supportive mom. And Woody Harrelson arrives as a lawyer who reluctantly takes on Josey's case.
That class-action sexual harassment suit was a groundbreaking event. North Country is not.
Inside AJC.COM
Alan Jackson in concert
The country singer performed at Chastain Park this weekend, along with Blake Shelton.
Who has the fine whine?
Who's the whiniest football coach in the SEC? Tell Metro Atlanta what you think.
Look who turned 16
Miley Cyrus celebrated her Sweet Sixteen with whom else? Mickey Mouse at Disneyland.
Making the perfect cookie
How about making some yummy cookies for co-worker or friend who is feeling down?
From the Blogs
Best of the Big A
-
Current nominations
-
Current voting
-
Latest winner






