Review of North Country (2005) by Terry H — 09 Aug 2010

You have to wonder where fact and fiction collide in New Zealand.

Director Niki Caro's new blue-collar, feminist manifesto "North.

Country," a conscientious but over-long courtroom.

Drama with chilling flashbacks about the first sexual harassment.

Class-action law suit in America. Like the Oscar-winning Sally Field.

Movie "Norma Rae" (1979), the controversial Meryl Streep biography.

"Silkwood" (1983), Jessica Lang's modern day farming epic "Country".

(1984) and Julia Roberts' "Erin Brockovich" (2000), "North Country".

Celebrates women that fight back against job discrimination and triumph.

Over tyranny practiced by men with the mentality of a cave man.

Interestingly, Caro's previous movie "Whale Rider" (2002) focused on a.

Female determined to buck the system. The young island heroine in.

"Whale Rider" struggled against terrific odds as well as her own.

Grandfather's open hostility to win recognition as the rightful heir as.

Leader of her tribe. Unlike "Norma Rae," "Silkwood," "Country" and.

"Erin Brockovich," "North Country" chronicles the trials and.

Tribulations of a victimized woman who never got an even break. South.

African beauty Charlize Theron, who clinched a Best Acting Oscar for.

Her ugly duckling murderess in "Monster" (2003), delivers another.

Sterling performance largely bereft of make-up as a miner who changes.

The way women were treated in a male-dominated profession. Not only.

Does Theron gain our sympathy as a woebegone heroine, but also she.

Gains our admiration as somebody who fought for the dignity that every.

Individual deserves. An unforgettable supporting cast, featuring Oscar.

Winners Sissy Spacek of "Marie" (1985) and Frances McDormand of "Fargo".

(1996), make Theron appear really believable as another down-to-earth,.

Deglamorized gal trying to reassemble the shattered puzzle of her life.

Despite the worst obstacles she must face. No, "North Country" doesn't.

Slam men as a species, just some men specifically. "Natural Born.

Killers" star Woody Harrelson has his best role in years as a savvy.

Attorney that represents our heroine against corporate evil, while.

British actor Sean Bean shines as McDormand's standby-his-wife husband.

Indeed, the only men that "North Country" assails are the worthless.

Degenerates that prey on women, because the men physically have more.

Powerful and they outnumber the women. "Here on Earth" writer Michael.

Seitzman based his predictable but often unsettling screenplay on Clara.

Bingham and Lura Leedy Gansler's book "Class Action: The Landmark Case.

That Changed Sexual Harassment Law." "North Country" unfolds.

Erratically, lurching back and forth between loquacious courtroom.

Scenes and raw brutal flashbacks. When we first meet Josey Aimes.

(Charlize Theron) in "North Country," we watch as her out-of-work.

Husband gives her a black eye. Josey grabs her two kids and heads back.

To live with her long-suffering parents, Hank (Richard Jenkins of TV's.

"Six Feet Under") and Alice (Sissy Spacek). Josey's father isn't.

Pleased to see his never-do-well daughter. Initially, he suspects that.

Her lout of a wife-beating husband had a legitimate reason to strike.

Her. Saddled with two children, Josey tries to make ends meet by.

Cutting hair. One of her customers, Glory (Frances McDormand), suggests.

That Josey apply for a job at the mine where she works as a union.

Representative. Naturally, Hank is none too happy. In fact, none of the.

Men at the mine are glad to work alongside women. Instead, they hate.

And ridicule them at every turn with pornographic words spelled out in.

Fecal matter on their dressing room walls. Of course, the filmmakers.

Have changed the names for their adaptation, but they pretty much.

Adhere to the facts. Nevertheless, Caro and Seitzman strive to make.

"North Country" more a drama than a documentary. Women who watch this.

Movie definitely are going to hate the hoodlums who bully Theron and.

Her co-workers. The villainous men in "North Country" constitute the.

Cream of the sleaze, and the actors who impersonate them are thoroughly.

Convincing. Whether they're slipping X-rated sex toys into a woman's.

Lunch box or groping them in a most ungentlemanly fashion, these jerks.

Deserve the worst punishment imaginable for their offenses. Some scenes.

May challenge viewers, especially when the heroine as a high school.

Girl (Amber Heard of "Friday Night Lights") is raped by her hulking.

Teacher in the class room while her powerless boyfriend watches in.

Humiliation. While Caro gets down and dirty, "North Country" is never a.

Down and dirty movie, but a tribute to underdogs. Although pop icon.

Musician Bob Dylan provides some soulful music for "North Country," you have to wonder why they didn't dust off Helen Reddy for the end.

Credits. Altogether, despite solid performances by a first-rate cast,.

"North Country" qualifies as a sober-minded analysis of the dark side.

Of capitalism.