MOVIE NIGHT TRAFFIC LIGHT

Industry Entertainment (Distribution – Warner Brothers)

$?

Niki Caro (Whale Rider)

Michael Seitzman (Here on Earth)

Charlize Theron – Josey Aimes (Monster, Italian Job, Cider House Rules)

Frances McDormand – Glory (Almost Famous, Fargo)

Woody Harrelson – Bill White (Cheers, Natural Born Killers, Thin Red Line)

This movie is based on true events surrounding a sexual harassment case that occurred in Northern Minnesota in the 80’s.  It begins when Charlize Theron’s character leaves her husband after her beats her.  She and her two kids head home to Northern Minnesota to live with her parents and start over.  Her friend Glory, played by Frances McDormand, convinces her to take a job at the local mine to get a good paying job.  The mine only employs few women which most of the men disapprove of.  Mining is a man’s job.  The movie is a slow paced reenactment of the sexual harassment taking place at the mine while weaving in the struggles of the characters outside of the mine.  It takes a long time to actually get to what the audience expects…the court battle.  The movie dedicates just a few minutes to the ground-breaking and precedent setting court ruling and so much time on the horrible lives of the characters, that it leaves you feeling depressed. 

While North Country showcases some great acting (Charlize Theron cries a lot while Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson are entertaining) and amazing scenery, it leaves the audience short on being satisfied.  However, the topic is relevant and important for audiences to remember, even if the movie leaves you feeling the story was somehow incomplete.

On the Movie Night Traffic Light on a scale of GREEN meaning “Go – it’s a must see”, YELLOW meaning “Caution – it’s okay” and RED meaning “No - stop don’t do it."

We rate North Country a YELLOW.  It’s an important story, just not very entertaining.