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Ghost Canyon

'North Country'
(Charlize Theron, Elle Peterson, et al / DVD / R / (2005) 2006 / Warner Bros.)

Overview: A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.

DVD Verdict: 'North Country' is really one excellent movie that defines the (rightfully so) permissable relationship between workers in tough, abusive jobs. Charlize Theron plays the part of Josey Aimes, the plaintiff in the subsequent EEOC lawsuit that established Federal and State enforced guidelines on workplace hostility. Everyone has the right to earn a living. Hard to find something wrong with that. We're not talking about the '40's or the '50's. This stuff has been going on since then of course. Rosie the Riveter working on the assembly lines of Ford, Boeing, Chance-Vought and Grumman, was tough as nails. She was also abused by her male co-workers. This is the burden faced by Director Niki Caro and the result is admirable and in parts even magnetic. This is not the vanilla "Norma Rae." This is the abusive, dangerous, hostile, rejection by male union members of a female worker. The result of not being able to make a living has a large impact on more than just the paycheck. The lonliness, the children, the abuse by other men's wives . . . it must be terribly stressful and Theron plays the part exceedingly well as we have come to expect from her. McDormand, Spacek and Bean are just outstanding as the support cast who remain (sometimes irritated with but) loyal to Theron. I had a problem with Bill White (Woody Harrelson) as the lawyer who befriends Theron. Ex-Hockey player; ex-New York lawyer, turns up in the Siberia of the US, 'Iron Country' Minnesota. Why? Have you heard of ESPN, man. Sports agency. The extraordinary client pool in New York, exceeded only by California for people who will sue eachother at the drop of a hat. ("You don't like my hair? See you in court, witch!") The other problem I had was Ms. Theron. There are wonderful, gifted actors in Hollywood who are women who can do an extraordinary job. Two of them are the above mentioned McDormand and Spacek. But I have to tell you that Charlize Theron is the most drop-dead-gorgeous woman acting today. OK. I could be wrong. Would you give me in the top three? I would have put someone less strikingly beautiful in the lead role. Equally skilled. Not to say Ms. Theron wasn't brilliant. It just seemed unnecessary. The Unions are a haven for this type of abuse and I thought Caro's depiction of it to be kind of pale compared to many experiences that have ocurred around the world. The cinematography was extraordinary. A powerful, powerful movie that like the Oscar winner "Crash," demands your attention. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Making-of Documentary: "Stories from the North Country"
Additional Scenes
Theatrical Trailer

www.WarnerVideo.com





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