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"NORTH COUNTRY" (2005) (Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Mild Extreme Moderate *None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None Mild Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Heavy Extreme Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: A woman must deal with the ramifications of suing her employer for sexual harassment in the northern Minnesota mine where she works. PLOT: It's 1989 and Josey Aimes (CHARLIZE THERON) is simply looking for a better life for herself and her kids, teenager Sammy (THOMAS CURTIS) and his younger sister Karen (ELLE PETERSON), following one too many beatings from her abusive husband. Unfortunately, her traditional parents Hank (RICHARD JENKINS) and Alice (SISSY SPACEK) blame her for her marital woes, leading her to leaving her kids with her best friend Glory (FRANCES McDORMAND) and her husband Kyle (SEAN BEAN). Having never supported herself let alone her family, Josey needs a high-paying job and the only such game in town is working for Pearson Tacomite and Steel, a northern Minnesota mine. Glory works there -- as a union rep. -- and so does Hank, but neither they nor Kyle are sure she's suited for the work. Nevertheless, she takes the blue collar job, working alongside a handful of other women such as Big Betty (RUSTY SCHWIMMER) and teenager Sherry (MICHELLE MONAGHAN). It's not long, however, before Josey learns why few women work there. The men, not used to women working alongside them -- especially ones as pretty as her -- immediately objectify her, taunting her with all sorts of sexual comments and come-ons. That includes her immediate supervisor Bobby Sharp (JEREMY RENNER), her former high school classmate and romantic interest who's turned into a chauvinistic, callous man. Despite Glory telling Josey she needs a thicker skin, all of the sexual harassment -- combined with the lack of concern on the part of the male-dominated chain of command above her -- eventually becomes too much to bear. Pressured to quit, she hopes to enlist the aide of Glory and Kyle's friend Bill White (WOODY HARRELSON) who's just arrived there from New York City in hopes of regrouping his life. Having given up his law practice, he wants nothing to do with Josey's efforts, but she eventually wins him over. From that point on, and with Bill's help, she must contend with the reaction of her family, friends and former coworkers as she files a class action, sexual harassment claim against the company and its boss, Don Pearson (JAMES CADA), who does everything in his power to discredit her claim and personal life. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens might be interested in it as might anyone who's a fan of someone in the cast, but it doesn't otherwise seem like it will be enticing to most other kids. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For sequences involving sexual harassment including violence and dialogue, and for language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: CHARLIZE THERON plays a mother who runs away from her abusive marriage and supports herself for the first time by getting a union job at the mine. Once there, however, she must deal with sexual harassment from her coworkers, and indifference and cover-ups from her bosses, eventually leading her to filing a lawsuit against the company during which her sexual past is explored. She smokes, drinks and must deal with the consequences of her actions. FRANCES McDORMAND plays her best friend and union rep. at the mine who tries to fight for the women's rights all while warning Josey to develop a thicker skin. She drinks and must deal with getting a debilitating disease. SEAN BEAN plays her husband who initially thinks Josey is too "girly" for the job but changes his mind once he gets to know her. He smokes a bit and drinks some. WOODY HARRELSON plays a former hockey standout who arrives at his friends' town and has given up his law practice in hopes of "regrouping" following a failed marriage. Although initially reluctant, he eventually takes Josey's case against the company. He also drinks and uses profanity. THOMAS CURTIS plays Josey's teenage son who develops a bad attitude toward his mom following her actions, all from being embarrassed by what's occurring. He may have some drug paraphernalia hidden under his bed, nearly steals from Kyle, and generally isn't happy. ELLE PETERSON plays his younger sister. JEREMY RENNER plays Josey's immediate field supervisor at work who was once her boyfriend of sorts but now sexually harasses her at work (at one point threatening to rape her). He uses strong profanity. RICHARD JENKINS plays Josey's stern and traditional father who views her as an embarrassment to the family once she takes a job at the mine and then starts to rock the boat. SISSY SPACEK plays his traditional wife who doesn't stand up for her daughter since she thinks things could be resolved if Josey acted differently. She eventually has enough and briefly moves out from Hank. JAMES CADA plays the company boss who dismisses Josey's charges and fires her over them. RUSTY SCHWIMMER plays one of Josey's coworkers who puts up with the harassment because she needs her job. MICHELLE MONAGHAN plays Josey's somewhat wild, 19-year-old coworker who comes on to Bill but must also deal with the harassment at work. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 13 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue, writing and drawings are present (some of which is explicit), as is the brief sight of a dildo and a poster showing a scantly clad woman with her legs spread. Some of that involves sexual harassment that also includes unwelcome physical contact, while a man nearly rapes his subordinate (as a threat) and an earlier rape is partially seen in flashback. Domestic abuse occurs off-screen (with bloody results), while some characters briefly fight or scuffle. Some of that material may be unsettling for some viewers. All sorts of bad attitudes are displayed by various characters, including from family members who don't believe or support the protagonist's claims (thus leading to various tense family moments), while various thematic elements are also present. Various characters smoke and/or drink, with some inebriation occurring and a teenager might have drugs or related paraphernalia in his possession, while some potentially imitative behavior and scatological material are present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Hank and another person have beer. Glory, Josey and others have beer. We see a flashback to young Bobby and Josey drinking from a flask and passionately kissing. Kyle and Bill have beer. Glory carries a tray of shots for her and the other ladies (we briefly see them drinking). Later that night, Josey falls out of Glory's car while intoxicated. When they go inside, they find Sammy sitting in the bathroom with a bottle of booze, also drunk. The next morning, both have hangovers (played for laughs). Bill has another beer. Bobby makes a comment about the possibility of smoking a joint in a remote area of the mine. Josey has a beer. Bill drinks from a flask and offers some to Josey, but she declines the offer. Josey and her friends have beer. Glory pours a lot of booze into her cup and then swipes it from the table in anger (about her medical condition). Sammy may have drugs or drug paraphernalia in a box that he quickly slides under the bed when someone approaches. Glory drinks some booze. When Josey asks for Bill's legal help, he says he'll buy her a beer. She says she doesn't need a beer, but does need a lawyer. Kyle and Bill have beer in a bar. Kyle has a beer. BLOOD/GORE We see Josey on the floor with blood on her face from an unseen beating by her husband. We see a dead deer in an open trailer (from hunting). Saying that Josey needs a bathroom break, Glory tells the men that they can just whip it out and go anywhere. As Sherry enters a porta-john, one of the men says he "took a dump in it." Once the door is closed, various men then rock it back and forth, scaring her. They laugh as it turns over and she spills out, covered in fluid, urine and fecal matter. We see the words "c*nts" and "rats" written in what looks like blood (aimed at the ladies). We see that Glory has a hole in her throat for medical reasons (no blood). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE From her pre-employment gynecological exam to the sexual harassment and the bosses turning a blind eye to that, most everyone in authority at Josey's company has a bad attitude toward her and don't mind how others treat her. Various characters pull sexual pranks and such on various women at various times in the film (see "Sex/Nudity" for specifics). We hear that Josey's husband beats her and we see the results of that. When Hank sees that Josey has been beaten, he asks if her husband caught her with another man (rather than defending or worrying about his daughter). When later asked about that (if it was the first time she disappointed her father), she says it wasn't the first time he disappointed her. Alice's friends talk badly about Josey, commenting on her having two kids by two fathers, etc. Everyone puts the blame on Josey for her husband beating her. Hearing that Josey has left her husband and wants to work at the mine, Hank asks if she wants to be a lesbian now. About Josey's husband being abusive, Alice says that he just needs a job and a purpose. About Josey, Kyle says that she's "kind of girlie" to be a miner. Showing Josey and other women the ropes around the mining operation, her supervisor says that it's something a woman shouldn't be doing "if you ask me." He then tells Josey that the doc said she looks good under her clothes. He then tells the ladies he's joking and that they need a sense of humor. It also sounded like he said "c*nts" under his breath about them. Commenting about their male boss who's just made a sexist comment, one of the women says about him "What a homo." Various men stare or laugh at Josey. Bobby asks Josey and the other new female workers "Which one of you girls is going to be my bitch" and makes a comment about hoping there are no "fatties" among them. A woman is referred to as a "c*ck-tease." A person uses the comment "I'm not retarded." A guy acts like he's looking for a light for his cigarette by putting his hand into a woman's shirt pocket, but he's doing so to feel her up. He says he was seeing if she had a full pack and then says she doesn't. When Josey goes to complain about the men's treatment of her and the others, her male supervisor says "You're not wanted here." Bobby makes some sexually related remarks about some crude, saying it's too bad it's toxic, adding that it "Could be a little..." (and then makes a whistle sound), commenting on it being used as a lube and making sexual remarks about moaning, etc. He then tells Josey that he's "Just f*cking with you." A man asks Kyle is he's got a three-way going with Josey at home. Sherry, a 19-year-old worker, comes on to Bill, saying she knows he's not a homo. When he learns her age, he says he's wearing underwear older than her, with her being mad and saying "You really are a homo." When asked what he thinks about their new (rundown) house, Sammy tells his mom that he thinks it "sucks." Bobby has Josey go up a small coal chute (she's hesitant about doing so) that suddenly turns on when she's up near the top. He then joins her out on a small balcony of sorts, where he comments on it being so noisy that someone could get buried in the coal falling from the end of the chute (a veiled threat about her rocking the boat, all as he stands directly behind her). He then says they should kiss and make-up, but she doesn't want to. A mine man says that Josey is making mountains out of molehills. He also says that men will walk the line (meaning making sexual remarks, etc. to women) and that it's not a problem until they cross that line. Hank has a bad/uncaring attitude about how the men are treating Josey. When Sammy complains about another kid not passing the puck to him in a hockey match, the other kid says his dad would kill him if he did. Bobby's wife approaches Josey at a well-attended hockey match, calling her a whore and telling her to stay away from her husband (when it was really Bobby who came on to Josey). Despite them also being the victims of sexual harassment, none of the other women want to stand with Josey in her charges. As Sherry enters a porta-john, one of the men says he "took a dump in it." Once the door is closed, various men then rock it back and forth, scaring her. They laugh as it turns over and she spills out, covered in fluid, urine and fecal matter. Josey travels to the company headquarters in hopes of finding a sympathetic ear, but the head and others on the board quickly dismiss her allegations and her big boss then tells her she can quit. He also tells her to spend less time stirring up her female coworkers and less time in the beds of her married male coworkers. Sammy is embarrassed about his mom working in the mine and thus acts angry and bitter toward her. We see the words "c*nts" and "rats" written in what looks like blood (aimed at the ladies). Some of the women who work at the mine are upset with Josey for rocking the boat. Bobby grabs Josey, throws and pins her down on a pile of rocks and appears like he's going to rape her (he has her by the throat with another hand at her crotch, but there's no nudity), but then lets her go (all as a threat). After that, another man lies to cover Bobby so that he doesn't get in trouble when Josey states what just happened. Glory is rebuked at a union meeting by the all male board. The male company boss tells his female lead attorney that he only hired her because she's the smartest female lawyer (not because she's the best overall). Hank comments on the class action lawsuit, saying that those girls are just asking for trouble and that Josey has brought nothing but shame on their family. Various men boo Josey when she addresses a union meeting with one then yelling out "Show us your t*ts." We see a flashback to Josey's older male high school teacher coming on to and then kissing her. He then gropes her as he cries and then rapes her, with Bobby seeing this through the small window in the door but doing nothing. He later lies about what took place. Kyle catches Sammy in his place, attempting to steal a watch from him. After some discussion, Kyle then gives the watch to Sammy. Sammy tells Kyle that his mom is a liar. He then says that he doesn't hate the world but instead just hates her. Kyle then sets him straight. Bobby lies on the stand during a court case, but eventually tells the truth. FRIGHTENING SCENES Josey's daughter sees Josey's husband coming home and runs up the stairs. We then see Josey on the floor with blood on her face from an unseen beating by that man. Bobby has Josey go up a small coal chute (she's hesitant about doing so) that suddenly turns on when she's up near the top. He then joins her out on a small balcony of sorts, where he comments on it being so noisy that someone could get buried in the coal falling from the end of the chute (a veiled threat about her rocking the boat, all as he stands directly behind her). He then says they should kiss and make-up, but she doesn't want to. Bobby grabs Josey, throws and pins her down on a pile of rocks and appears like he's going to rape her (he has her by the throat with another hand at her crotch, but there's no nudity), but then lets her go (all as a threat). We see that a woman is getting sicker from her debilitating disease. We see a flashback to Josey's older male high school teacher coming on to and then kissing her. He then gropes her as he cries and then rapes her, with Bobby seeing this through the small window in the door but doing nothing. GUNS/WEAPONS None, but unseen explosives are used in mining (we briefly see above ground explosions). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*ck you," "Go f*ck yourself," "Just f*cking with you," "F*cking asshole," "You f*cked up," "Are you f*cking kidding?" "Get the f*ck out of here," "Oh f*ck," "Sh*t-pit," "The sh*t's out of control," "You don't know sh*t about me," "You don't give a sh*t, do you?" "Dogsh*t," "Nobody wants to sh*t where they eat," "C*ck-tease," "Swinging d*ck," "Show us your t*ts," "Nuts and sluts defense," "You're only going to piss him off more," "Jeez," "You're a crap storyteller," "What a homo," "I know you're not a homo," "You really are a homo," "I'm not retarded," "You damn well know it," "Toxic as hell," "Stink hole," "Screw that," "What the hell is the matter with you?" "I think it sucks," "Horse's ass," "Holy crap," "Gals" (women), "I work damn hard," "Stay the hell away from my husband," "(You're a) Whore," "You can all go to hell," "Up yours," "Kiss my ass," "Freak out," "Loser," "Screwing with," "Get your ass down here," "(You're one crazy) bitch," "That sucks," "Get the hell out of here," "Bitching and moaning" and "That's for damn sure." It's possible the film could inspire some boys to sexually harass girls. Various characters pull sexual pranks and such on various women various times in the film (see "Sex/Nudity" for specifics). We see a tattoo on a person's hand. Bill tells Glory that he brought something back from New York for her and then playfully gives her "the finger" (that she then gives back to him). As Sherry enters a porta-john, one of the men says he "took a dump in it." Once the door is closed, various men then rock it back and forth, scaring her. They laugh as it turns over and she spills out, covered in fluid, urine and fecal matter. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has the lyric, "Lay lady, lay - lay across my big brass bed." Josey sings some song about a gun (while drunk). PROFANITY At least 13 "f" words, 9 "s" words, 3 slang terms using female genitals ("c*nt" and "p*ssy"), 2 using male ones ("c*ck" and "d*ck"), 1 for breasts ("t*ts"), 9 asses (2 used with "hole"), 8 hells, 7 craps, 3 S.O.B.s, 2 damns, 4 uses of "G-damn," 2 each of "Jesus," "Oh Jesus" and "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "God," "Jesus Christ," "Oh dear God" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY We see a nude Barbie doll with which young Karen plays. We see a flashback to high school where Bobby playfully grabs Josey's clothed butt at school (and she doesn't mind). When asked in court about the identity of Sammy's father, Josey says she doesn't know. She's then asked if that's because she's had so many sexual partners, but she doesn't reply to that. Trying to cheer up Josey about her abusive husband, Glory says that Josey forgot to tell the others that her husband likes to wear her panties. Hearing that Josey has left her husband and wants to work at the mine, Hank asks if she wants to be a lesbian now. Hearing that, young Karen chimes in that she does (not knowing what it means). We see Josey getting a gynecological exam in order to get her job (the examiner is between her legs, but we don't see anything), with the doctor saying, "All clear...you're not pregnant." He then gives her some tissues to use to clean herself and we see her bare back as she then sits up and her gown is open (in the back). Later, in court, Josey asks the female defense attorney if her law firm had her put her feet in the air and looked around inside her. A woman is referred to as a "c*ck-tease." Big Betty says that "Little Betty" quit because she was "too little" (said as she holds her hands up to her chest). We see that one or more guys has put a dildo in a lunchbox, with a guy saying, "No getting off in the lunchroom ladies." Josey then holds it up, saying she might marry it since it won't leave the seat up or fart in bed. Asked what sort of concessions the ladies will give the guys for the portable toilets they want, Glory sarcastically tells one guy "discount blowjobs for everyone but you." There's an outline drawing on the wall of a woman's head with a penis at her mouth and the wording "Sherry eats here." A guy acts like he's looking for a light for his cigarette by putting his hand into a woman's shirt pocket, but he's doing so to feel her up. He says he was seeing if she had a full pack and then says she doesn't. Josey's male supervisor has a poster on the wall of a young woman seated in small shorts with her legs spread. Bobby makes some sexually related remarks about some crude, saying it's too bad it's toxic, adding that it "Could be a little..." (and then makes a whistle sound), commenting on it being used as a lube and making sexual remarks about moaning, etc. He then tells Josey that he's "Just f*cking with you." A man asks Kyle is he's got a three-way going with Josey at home. A song has the lyric, "Lay lady, lay - lay across my big brass bed." A female mine worker says the last time she danced in a provocative fashion (like someone else is), she got twins. We see Sammy in his boxers while drunk. We see footage from the Clarence Thomas hearings where Anita Hill comments about talk of penis size. Bobby's wife approaches Josey at a well-attended hockey match, calling her a whore and telling her to stay away from her husband (when it was really Bobby who came on to Josey). We see a handwritten "sign" about a female mine worker that says "blow jobs" are $5 and swallows are 50 cents (and the men there joke about that, while she's seemingly unaware of the sign below her). Josey travels to the company headquarters in hopes of finding a sympathetic ear, but the head and others on the board quickly dismiss her allegations and her big boss then tells her she can quit. He also tells her to spend less time stirring up her female coworkers and less time in the beds of her married male coworkers. Kyle says he only has one "ball" (testicle), but a joke is then made that you only need one, a big one. Bill refers to what the company will probably use as the "nuts and sluts" defense. A man comments on Josey's "sordid" sexual history. At a union meeting, Bobby says that Josey just wants to get into his pants. Various men boo Josey when she addresses a union meeting with one then yelling out "Show us your t*ts." We see semen on a woman's clothes in her locker. In the court case, Josey is asked about her sexual history and particularly her relationship with an older male teacher in high school. We see a flashback to Josey's older male high school teacher coming on to and then kissing her. He then gropes her as he cries and then rapes her, with Bobby seeing this through the small window in the door but doing nothing (we don't see the contact of the actual rape, just her anguished/scared face). There's more talk about Josey's "inappropriate" sexual history. In the court case, there's talk of rape vs. consensual sex. Bill asks Bobby if he's a virgin, and then asks if Bobby watched as their teacher held her down, spread her legs and jammed himself up inside her. SMOKING Josey and Kyle each smoke several times, Bobby and Sherry each smoke at least one time and various minor or miscellaneous characters smoke in several different scenes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Josey's daughter sees Josey's husband coming home and runs up the stairs. We then see Josey on the floor with blood on her face from an unseen beating by that man. Josey packs up her kids and moves away from her abusive husband, with Sammy telling her, "You're only going to piss him off more." When Hank sees that Josey has been beaten, he asks if her husband caught her with another man (rather than defending or worrying about his daughter). When later asked about that (if it was the first time she disappointed her father), she says it wasn't the first time he disappointed her. Sammy sees Josey and her husband (the boy's stepfather) arguing, with the boy saying, "He's not my father." Josey says that her husband beat her, more than once and more than lightly. Josey has her kids stay with Glory and Kyle until she gets herself settled. Hank has a bad/uncaring attitude about how the men are treating Josey. When Sammy says he's going to stay at his girlfriend's house, Josey gets mad, pulls him from another car and then whacks at him (all making a public scene). Sammy is embarrassed about his mom working in the mine and thus acts angry and bitter toward her. Hank comments on the class action lawsuit, saying that those girls are just asking for trouble and that Josey has brought nothing but shame on their family. As a result, Alice leaves him and checks into a motel by herself. Sammy tells Kyle that his mom is a liar. He then says that he doesn't hate the world but instead just hates her. Kyle then sets him straight. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The real story behind the film and the artistic license it takes with the truth. Sexual harassment. Domestic abuse. Class action lawsuits. Rape. When Hank sees that Josey has been beaten, he asks if her husband caught her with another man (rather than defending or worrying about his daughter). When later asked about that (if it was the first time she disappointed her father), she says it wasn't the first time he disappointed her. When asked in court about the identity of Sammy's father, Josey says she doesn't know. She's then asked if that's because she's had so many sexual partners, but she doesn't reply to that. About Josey's husband being abusive, Alice says that he just needs a job and a purpose. Glory tells Josey that she needs thick skin to work at the mine and put up with the men's sexist comments and behavior. This being the first time that Josey has made her own money. A mine man says that Josey is making mountains out of molehills. He also says that men will walk the line (meaning making sexual remarks, etc. to women) and that it's not a problem until they cross that line. We see footage from the Clarence Thomas hearings where Anita Hill comments about talk of penis size. Seeing that, Alice says (about Thomas) "That poor man's family." Despite them also being the victims of sexual harassment, none of the other women want to stand with Josey in her charges. We learn that a major character has Lou Gehrig's disease. After seeing and hearing his daughter disparaged at a union meeting, Hank finally stands up for her. Josey and Sammy bond over her discussion with him about being raped back in high school and her then being pregnant with Sammy who initially only reminded her of the rape. VIOLENCE Josey's daughter sees Josey's husband coming home and runs up the stairs. We then see Josey on the floor with blood on her face from an unseen beating by that man. A man pushes Bill who then punches and pushes him away. We see some standard, hard checking in a hockey match. When Sammy says he's going to stay at his girlfriend's house, Josey gets mad, pulls him from another car and then whacks at him (all making a public scene). Glory pours a lot of booze into her cup and then swipes it from the table in anger (about her medical condition). As Sherry enters a porta-john, one of the men says he "took a dump in it." Once the door is closed, various men then rock it back and forth, scaring her. They laugh as it turns over and she spills out, covered in fluid, urine and fecal matter. Bobby grabs Josey, throws and pins her down on a pile of rocks and appears like he's going to rape her (he has her by the throat with another hand at her crotch, but there's no nudity), but then lets her go (all as a threat). We see a flashback to Josey's older male high school teacher coming on to and then kissing her. He then gropes her as he cries and then rapes her, with Bobby seeing this through the small window in the door but doing nothing (we don't see the contact of the actual rape, just her anguished/scared face). Hank attacks Josey's former high school teacher in court for previously raping her back in high school. Reviewed September 23, 2005 / Posted October 21, 2005

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