Certification. 15
Running Time. 2 hours 34 mins
Director. Anthony Minghella
Cast. Kathy Baker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brendan Gleeson, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Donald Sutherland, Ray Winstone, Renée Zellweger.
Rating. 71%
The Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella had a reputation for making morally ambiguous, challenging literary adaptations, the likes of The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Freely adapted from Charles Frazier's best-selling novel, Cold Mountain is another such addition to his back catalogue.
With the shadow of the American Civil War looming over Cold Mountain, North Carolina, Cold Mountain stars Jude Law as W. P. Inman and Nicole Kidman as Ada Monroe, two would-be lovers separated by the cruelty of the conflict. The film's convoluted narrative means the two romantic leads share little screen time and, at times, often seem to inhabit separate films.
The first hour of Cold Mountain alternates between Inman's current plight - hunkered down in the trenches - and flashbacks to halcyon images of Cold Mountain three years earlier. The film opens with an exciting set piece, a breathtaking, and brutal, recreation of the Battle of Petersburg. The juxtaposition of the abhorrent savagery of battle is at first jarring, but ultimately heart-wrenching, as director Anthony Minghella establishes motivation by revealing Inman's back story. These early flashbacks show the extent of the relationship - Inman and Ada barely know each other, as both recall flirtatious glances, awkward exchanges and a rushed farewell kiss. But the disproportionate intensity of their longing and the dim prospect of a reunion acts as a survival strategy for both.
Jude Law is more than competent in delivering a restrained performance as the brooding and driven Inman. Nicole Kidman is not challenged as the prim and proper clergyman's daughter. But, Renée Zellweger very much steals the show as the somewhat uncouth, wild-haired and without graces, Ruby Thewes. Zellweger literally stomps through the storyline. Her earthiness and charm, bring a warmth to an erstwhile sterile and stilted romance. Zellweger was awarded the 2004 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. However, the inevitable reconciliation with her father, Stobrod (Brendan Gleeson) is disappointing. The historic abuse and neglect forgiven and forgotten after a display of roguish charm and a song composed in her honour is somewhat implausible.
Were it not for the violent battle sequence at the beginning of the film and a couple of unnecessarily gratuitous glimpses of flesh, Cold Mountain might easily be mistaken as a product from a bygone era of cinema. Minghella's storytelling is luxurious, grandiose and compelling. He is aided by beautiful cinematography from Director of Photography, John Searle and Film Editor, Walter Murch should be highly commended for maintaining momentum in the opening 45 minutes with tight editing.
Cold Mountain is an epic, episodic romance, that opens as if it were a war film and concludes as if it were a western.
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