North Country *****

And the Oscar race has begun. North Country is by far the best film I have seen this year. Charlize Theron delivers another monster performance that will surely net her another best actress nomination, if not another Oscar. Woody Harrelson also gives a surprisingly inspired performance, not that we didn't know he could - but where has he been lately? Really a stellar cast all around with Sean Bean, Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, and Sissy Spacek delivering not performances, but real people. The movie makes us a part of an important and powerful story in the hands of the very capable director Niki Caro (who directed Whale Rider, which I can't possibly rave about enough).

The film is based on the true story of the first successful sexual harassment class action lawsuit in the US. It is the case that set the legal precedent for sexual harassment protections women all across America now have. But the film merely uses this story as an outline, the many relationships make the film so poignant. It reminds us that this is not just an important court case, but peoples lives. The film reminded me a lot of the Accused with Jodi Foster. Although North Country deals with very violent elements, they are never thrust upon you like in Monster. It's not so much graphic as emotional, it resonates with you because of the pain you see in the peoples eyes - you don't actually have to see the acts themselves to understand. While there is violence, it's just done in a way that is more jarring emotionally than shocking.

Through all of the hardships and the violence, in a way I suppose this film is still a coming of age type discovery. Not of the shocking hardships of reality, but a discovery of the inner resolve and courage that Josie (Charlize Theron) and all the characters in the film who stood up and spoke out had all along. Josie also faces many of her demons and in a way heals not only her relationship with her parents, but learns to accept herself. There are many points in the film where you nearly want to cheer and most of those lines are delivered by Woody Harrelson, and probably are a little schmaltzy but the delivery transcended the material. Each character in the film is fully fleshed out and has their own story, that you may only get a few glimpses of but it just feels as if nothing is thrown away in this movie, everything packs a punch. It's really just well done. Don't miss this one.