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Cold Mountain Customer Reviews (76 - 78 of 87 Reviews)

It's Been Done Before
Having not read the book upon which this film is based, I cannot comment on how closely the script followed the source material. What I can say is that if the book was much like the movie, I'm glad I didn't read it.
The cast is studded with fine actors, especially Jude Law, a personal favorite of mine. However, "Cold Mountain" doesn't bring out the best in any of them. Law's accent falters quite a bit, and his character is emotionally flat. In all fairness, this is largely the script's fault, but that doesn't make it enjoyable. Nicole Kidman's performance is passable in the first half, but quickly devolves into extreme over-acting. Renee Zellweger's incredibly stereotypical character is over-drawn in both script and performance from her introduction.
The real problem though is the script. This movie has been made hundreds of times- usually better. The couple has a brief, shallow, and virtually passionless relationship before they are separated for years, and yet they supposedly fall madly in love with one another. Inman (Law) makes an unbelievable journey populated by stock characters and predictable adventures. The way events unfolded for him as he travels from point A to B to C, always resulting in some kind of struggle, put me more in mind of a frustrating ten-year-old video game than a masterpiece of dramatic cinema.
Characters in the film are all clearly and unequivocably divided into "good" and "bad" camps. While the "good" characters aren't very original, the "bad" ones are archetypes of comic book supervillains. They are so supremely evil they make Hitler look like Lassie. The "Home Guard" insanely decides to brutally slaughter anyone they can on the thinnest of pretexts. This is ridiculous and unrealistic. After all, everything they believed in was embodied by this small, southern hometown they were trying to protect, yet they went out of their way to destroy it. A simple sense of self-preservation against the invading Union Army would have been enough of a reason to stay their hands. The Union soldiers, briefly though they appear, aren't much better. They attempt to steal food, commit rape, and all but murder an infant on a whim. Of course these things occurred during the war, but such encounters are so common in war films that they seem hackneyed.
The final mark against "Cold Mountain" is its incredibly long running time. If a movie is good, I want it to be long. But this one was so redundant and overbearing that I couldn't wait for it to end. Inman basically has too many encounters, each one at its core the same as the last.
This movie has been widely praised by critics and many fans. Perhaps it is because the book was so well-received and lavished with awards. If so, that must be clouding the critics' judgment on this awful film.

Attention To Detail Makes "Cold" A Mountainous Achievement
As one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, due to its long list of A-List actors involved, a much respected director, and the general subject matter, Civil War epic "Cold Mountain" paints a poignant, devastating and beautiful portrayal of one of the most turbulent times in American history.

Set in the small Southern town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, at the beginning of the Civil War, it follows the story of Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), the daughter of a preacher, and Inman (Jude Law), a young worker, who although are attracted to each other cannot express their feelings; only sharing a few words and a single kiss before Inman and the rest of the men in the town are sent off to fight for the Confederates. Throughout the next four years, Ada sends Inman dozens of letters of devotion and hope, telling him tales of home and praying for his safe return. Inman, who finds himself at the end of his wits while suffering through the horrors of war and after reading her letter while recovering in the hospital for a gunshot wound sustained in battle, decides to become a deserter to find his way back home to Ada. Thus, he begins a perilous journey back to Cold Mountain, not only hiding from the Yankees, but his Confederate comrades, and encountering many helpful and hindering characters along the way. For Ada back in Cold Mountain, her life seems to be falling apart as her house falls into dilapidation, and a band of lawmen terrorize the small town; putting laws into action that condemn those who are deserters or those who house them, as well as anyone else they see fit. So, it comes as a relief for Ada when spunky Ruby (Renee Zellweger) shows up at her door, with the intention of helping her with the farm and getting her life back on track.

Under the direction of Anthony Minghella, who is best known for the haunting "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (also starring Jude Law) and the 1996 Best Picture "The English Patient", "Cold Mountain" succeeds in portraying a world torn by war in a devastatingly realistic fashion, not only focusing on the battles or political events that made up the war itself, but also the impact it had on those left behind. The love story of Ada and Inman has a modest beginning, yet grows until you can almost feel the raw, underlying connection between their souls and the hunger for each other protruding from the film. Jude Law is near flawless, as the young man fearing for his innocense lost, and the sheer determination he demonstrates throughout his journey in many situations can also be shown through a single glance of his dark, deep eyes. Nicole Kidman gives a slightly less thrilling performance, yet still shines as Ada, who never loses hope for Inman, and shows her character's strengths and determination in the fierce set of her jaw, and throughout the challenges she comes across. Renee Zellweger also delivers an enthralling performance as Ruby, with just the right amount of spunk, humor, and emotion, to win over the audience. The fascinating characters portrayed as Inman continues his long journey home and the rest of the supporting cast, while varying in personality, set a marvelous backdrop for a lush story rich in human emotion and immaculate attention to detail. Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Charlie Hunnam, Giovanni Ribisi, Kathy Baker, Cillian Murphy, and Jena Malone, among others, make up a splendid ensemble, with the stand out performances by Philip Seymour Hoffman as the slimy but lovable preacher and Inman's companion, and Natalie Portman as Sara, the desperately lonely housewife.

As one of the most brutally realistic movies of the year, you must know what you are getting yourself into before watching "Cold Mountain". For the viewers with weak tolerances, it has more than a few scenes which will upset your stomach and tug your heartstrings. I myself found some parts hard to watch, but I was also enthralled by the visual aspects, performances, and wonderful direction of the film. Without a doubt, I believe "Cold Mountain" will do very well at the Oscars, if not in gold stauettes, than with a numerous amount of nominations, each more than deserved.

Definitely worth seeing...
Cold Mountain has a fantastic cast, and they all deliver terrific performances. But by far the star of the show in my opinion is Renee Zellwegger (sp?). I'm not a huge fan of hers but she nailed her character perfectly.

The only real issue I had was the movie didn't do a great job in the beginning making a strong connection between the two main characters played by Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. It was difficult to believe that these two people who barely knew each other would be so steadfast in their attempts to find each other after the war. But right before Law goes off to battle, the spark between he and Kidman was believable. Their long-distance relationship, or the hope of it, became more and more believeable as these characters developed throughout the film. The hardships they endured, and the lack of hope each had in anything but the thought of reuniting, really made you root for Law's character to make it home alive. The ending was appropriate and powerful, leaving me sad but fulfilled.

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