North Country (2005)

Directed by Niki Caro. Starring Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, Jeremy Renner, Sean Bean, Michelle Monaghan, Thomas Curtis, Xander Berkeley, James Cada, Sissy Spacek, Jillian Armenante, Rusty Schwimmer, Linda Emond, Tom Bower, Corey Stoll. [R]

Facing relentless and unspeakable acts of sexual harassment/abuse at the hands of her loathsome male co-workers, northern Minnesota mine worker Josey Aimes (Theron) fights back by starting a class action lawsuit against the company that’s always willing to look the other way or outright tolerate the inappropriate conduct. Inspired by a true story, but the names are hardly the only things that were changed—the dramatic license is such a sham it could be described as a fake ID—and while this should have been an inflaming, inspiring, sometimes-searing drama about adversity and empowerment and triumph, the melodramatic button-pushing is so severe it’s akin to being yelled at through a bullhorn for two hours. I wouldn’t even mind being jerked around so much if changes in character behavior weren’t so contrived and unrealistic, whether it be the abrupt about-faces from both of Josey’s parents (played by Jenkins and a badly underused Spacek), a witness stand reversal from one of Theron’s worst abusers (Renner), or the conveniently-timed changes of heart from Josey’s unsupportive female co-workers. Actors try their best, injecting as much honest feeling as they can into their roles, but they’re handcuffed by the limitations of an obvious and manipulative script (by Michael Seitzman, taken from the book, “Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law”). Gritty photography by Chris Menges.

45/100