Cast
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James Caan
as Sean McLennon
Christopher Lambert
as Hudson Saanteek
Catherine McCormack
as Sarah
Burt Young
as Reno
Morten Faldaas
as Smiley
Sverre Anker Ousdal
as Lindberg
Jacques François
as Colonel Henry Johnson
Frank Salsedo
as Nakki
Reidar Sørensen
as Bjorn Svenson
Hilde Grythe
as Hannah
John Cassady
as Jim Hanson
Nicholas Hope
as Sheriff Lamont
Crew
Director
- Nils Gaup
Writer
- Sergio Donati
- Lorenzo Donati
- Paul Ohl
Producer
- Petter J. Borgli
- Dino Di Dionisio
- Conchita Airoldi
- Christopher Lambert
- Anne François
Reviews
Wuchak
A Winter Western with a curiously rushed ending
RELEASED IN 1996 and directed by Nils Gaup, "North Star" is a Western that takes place in Nome, Alaska, during a gold rush in 1899. James Caan plays the love-to-hate mogul who denies mining claims to foreigners and attempts to kill a half-breed Indian (Christopher Lambert) for the claim to a cave filled with gold, which the Natives use in their ceremonies. The half-breed ends up abducting the mogul's woman, played by the beautiful Catherine McCormack, who you might remember as Wallace's doomed wife at the beginning of "Braveheart" (1995). The Winter chase is on!
There are elements of other Westerns here, like "Death Hunt" (1981), "Valdez is Coming" (1971), "The Far Country" (1954), “North to Alaska” (1960) and "Dances With Wolves” (1990), but that's to be expected. On the originality side, it's one of the few fully Winter Westerns of which I can remember beyond “The Great Silence” (1968) and “The Hateful Eight” (2015). Of course, films like "Will Penny" (1967), "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), “A Man Called Sledge” (1970) and a few others have some fairly long Winter sequences.
While Caan's villainy is too over-the-top for my tastes (although he does it well), I found "North Star" to be a well-done Western, except that the final 11 minutes or so feel rushed. As noted above, I was impressed that this was one of the first Westerns I’ve seen that focused exclusively on Winter conditions. It goes without saying that shooting in the snow is way more challenging than shooting in other seasons; and even more so if the locale is mountainous. The locations, sets and cast are all first-rate even while the storytelling has somewhat of a comic booky Grade B vibe.
But the filmmakers seemed to hurry the ending. Maybe they wanted to just complete the project and keep it under 90 minutes; or perhaps they weren't confident with the closing footage and awkwardly tried to "make it work" in the editing room. But it’s not THAT bad and didn’t ruin the experience for me. At the end of the day “North Star” is a worthwhile ‘modern Western’ that attempts something unique even while being a pastiche of the genre.
THE FILM RUNS 88 minutes and was shot in Norway. WRITERS: No less than five scripters are credited to adopting Heck Allen’s novel.
GRADE: B-/C+ (5.5/10)
Jul 24, 2018
Thematic Analysis
As a dramatic work, North Star examines complex human relationships and emotional struggles against the backdrop of a period setting that reflects societal issues of its time. The character development particularly stands out, offering viewers a chance to reflect on their own life journeys.
Director Nils Gaup brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to character development and emotional depth creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1996, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of North Star took approximately 6 months from pre-production to final cut.
- The final cut of the film runs for 90 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 116 minutes long.
- The costume department created over 456 unique costume pieces for the production.
- The musical score contains over 77 unique compositions.
- Some visual effects sequences took up to 7 months to complete.
Historical Context
- In 1996, when this film was released:
- Digital technology was transforming the entertainment industry.
- Globalization was accelerating economic and cultural exchange.
- Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.
How This Film Stands Out
Details
- Release Date: January 3, 1996
- Runtime: 1h 30m