Review of North Country (2005) by Kim K — 28 May 2009

Enjoyable drama thatâ??s impressively shot and features a strong cast but is ultimately hampered by a fatal weakness for courtroom clichés. North Country is loosely based on the true story of the first sexual harassment class-action lawsuit, though itâ??s probably safe to assume that the writers have taken a few dramatic liberties with the characters.

At any rate, itâ??s shocking to realise that this sort of thing was still going on as late as 1989 and the filmâ??s biggest success lies in inducing a sense of moral outrage in its audience. Director Niki Caro (Whale Rider) makes the most of the stark Minnesota landscapes, which add a distinct air of authenticity to the film.

She also gets terrific performances from her cast, particularly from Theron and McDormand, both of whom are likely candidates for Oscar nominations come February. The first half of the film is extremely good but towards the end Caro seems intent on working her way through The Big Book Of Courtroom Clichés.

They come so thick and fast that itâ??s like watching a comedy. Similarly, a crucial character reversal is both sudden and unconvincing. Despite a distinctly wobbly final act, this remains an enjoyable film thatâ??s worth seeing for its performances.