Northern Lights-Nora Roberts’ Northern Lights (2009)

Directed by: Mike Robe | 88 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: LeAnn Rimes, Eddie Cibrian, Greg Lawson, Rosanna Arquette, Jayne Eastwood, William MacDonald, Christianne Hirt, Adrian Hough, Billy Merasty, David Brown, Marty Antonini, Justin Michael Carriere, David Cowley, Alex Arsenault, Rod Heatheringston

In Europe, country singer Leann Rimes is best known for the song ‘Can’t find the moonlight’. She sang this title song from the movie ‘Coyote Ugly’ straight into the charts in 2000. In the Netherlands she even ended up at number 1 in the top 40. In ‘Northern Lights’ Leann Rimes exchanges her singing career for that of an actress in the role of the free-spirited Meg Galligan. It’s always a bit of a wait and see when a pop star throws himself into a discipline other than music. But LeAnn Rimes turns out to be a natural actress who interprets her role in an authentic way thanks to her self-assurance. Like she’s never done anything else. In ‘Northern Lights’ by Nora Roberts she seems to have found her place. The chemistry with her co-star, Eddie Cibrian (Police Officer Nate Burke) is almost palpable; a plus that is difficult to direct, from which ‘Northern Lights’ definitely reaps the benefits. No wonder that during the filming, there was a persistent rumor that Rimes and Cibrian (both married) would be having an affair.

In ‘Northern Lights’ it is about two beautiful people in an exciting, but clear scenario. Novelist Nora Roberts has provided the ingredients for a setting in which both romance and thriller thrive; Cut off from the world, the Alaskan village of Lunacy offers both the atmosphere of roaring fires and romantic winter landscapes, as well as that of a well-known village where jealousy and frustration are bottled up and kept silent. With all its consequences.

With two energetic main characters, a solid story and a beautiful film location, ‘Northern Lights’ actually has everything it needs. The final solution to the mystery in Lunacy is too easy, but it is not disturbing. ‘Northern Lights’ doesn’t revolve around unexpected twists and clever story constructions. On the other hand, as a viewer you will be treated to an exciting and romantic story of 88 minutes long.

Nora Roberts wrote more than 165 novels and over the years has received much praise for the passionate way in which she manages to touch people with her books. Several of her books have been used for television films. ‘Northern Lights’ is one of them. The film impresses in a way that is hard to get your hands on. The film is accurate and without a higher purpose or message, it was simply made to entertain viewers for a moment. And it worked.