North Country

Charlize Theron, in nonglam mode, dominates this powerful drama about sexual harassment at a Minnesota iron mine in the early 90s.

Frances McDormand, as the lone female union rep, and Richard Jenkins, as Josie's angry miner dad, cut through the predictability.

Yet Theron's steady performance allows you to see something in Josey that baulks at her victim status.

Theron digs into the character, unafraid to make her blemishes every bit as apparent as her virtues. It's as good a performance as a person has given all year, ample proof the stunningly beautiful South African's Academy Award wasn't a fluke.

You cannot help being stirred by the reach and depth, the constant rebuffs to sloppiness, of a strong ensemble.

Theron as usual is spot on, even if the drama feels a bit watered down.

It was probably ordained from the beginning that the ending of North Country would be pure schmaltz, but isn't that what you sign up for when you buy your ticket to a movie like this? Theron and Caro deliver the goods.

Theron's performance gives the film the emotional core needed to make it among the best films I have seen this year.

North Country gives superb dramatic life to a fictionalized version of the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the U.S.