Review: North Country

Rated R | 126 mins

IMDB Info

I’m still convinced that much of the reason why Charlize Theron pulled off her Academy-Award-winning turn as Monster’s Aileen Wuornos as remarkably as she did was because she had hair, makeup, and weight on her side. However, North Country makes a compelling argument against this case. In her second “serious” role, Theron is completely believable as Josey Aimes, a female coal-miner who leads the first class-action sexual-harassment suit in history against her morally-despicable male-co-workers. The performance offers solid proof that she may just have the acting-chops to become Hollywood’s next great actress, if she’s not there already. Theron is so empathetic in North Country that the fact that director Niki Caro and screenwriter Michael Seitzman have, in actuality, crafted a melodramatic and somewhat self-indulgent film becomes the last thing on viewers’ minds as they watch the story unravel. Supported by an Oscar-worthy Richard Jenkins, the leading actress is practically invincible in her role, reaching out to the audience in a way that is truly affecting. The implications made regarding the ways in which sexual harassment affects Aimes’ daily behavior and the “based on a true story” claim that precedes North Country can, at times, seem like a bit much, but with Theron at its helms, it can really do no wrong. It is exemplary of the fact that, even in an age of MTV-style-editing and multi-million-dollar CGI creations, great acting is still worth a damn.