Where to watch North Star
2 1/2 Stars
Set during the Alaskan gold rush of the late 1800s. In his efforts to gain control of a small mining town, Sean McLennon is buying up every mining claim that becomes available, usually after the deaths of the previous owners at the hands of McLennon’s “assistants”. One of the miners targeted by McLennon, a half-Indian hunter named “Hudson Saanteek”, manages to escape his hired thugs, and comes back into town looking to re-establish his claim and get revenge. McLennon and his men have the advantange of numbers and weapons, but Saanteek has his survival skills, and knowledge of the Alaskan wilderness.
Christopher Lambert debuted in America in the 1980s, but his popularity and output soared in the early 90s. North Star marks a significant shift for the French-born actor—he receives an executive producer credit, but it also signals the start of his decline. The film boasts beautiful locations, strong cinematography, a solid budget, and an impressive cast, yet something is amiss. It’s entertaining, but lacks a key ingredient.
James Caan, another actor reintroduced to audiences in the 90s, is fantastic as an unforgiving land-grabber. The material, adapted from a 1950s novel, feels dated and corny, with Lambert as the least believable half-breed in modern cinema history. Burt Young, looking lean in his post-Rocky roles, is so good as a crooked tough-guy that I wish he had taken more parts in the Western genre. Catherine McCormack is servicable in a role that underutilizes her acting talents but showcases her beauty. North Star is a near-miss; the innocence of the picture is appealing in some respects, but the flatness in which the story is told becomes a major problem as we reach a climax that fizzles out.
Directed by: Nils Gaup
Written by: Heck Allen, Gilles Béhat, Philippe Schwartz
Starring: James Caan, Christopher Lambert, Catherine McCormack