Cold Mountain Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)January 14th, 2004
COLD MOUNTAIN (2003) / *** 1/2
Directed by Anthony Minghella. Screenplay by Minghella, based on the novel by Charles Frazier. Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger. Running time: 155 minutes. Rated AA for violent scenes by the MFCB. Reviewed on January 13th, 2004.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: At the dawn of the American Civil War, preacher's daughter Ada Monroe (Kidman) comes to the town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina. There she meets the quiet Inman (Law) and the two begin a tentative romance until Inman is swept up in the War and leaves town to fight for the Confederate forces. Soon, though, the brutality of the conflict and his memories of Ada inspire Inman to desert and begin the long trek home to Cold Mountain, where Ada has unwittingly caught the eye of the cruel Teague (Ray Winstone), head of the local guard.
Review: The epic journey is one of mankind's oldest stories, and when told well it can still feel almost mythical. Popular film is perhaps not the best vehicle for the genre, however -- the epic journey typically relies on the detailed development of numerous episodes, and mainstream movies rarely allow the time needed to accomplish this. "Cold Mountain" suffers this problem, and indeed in some ways it's even more acute as the film tries to balance Inman's journey with Ada's struggles at home. For every encounter which feels fully realised, like Inman's nervous meeting with a widowed mother (Natalie Portman), there is an element which feels rushed, such as the final fate of Philip Seymour Hoffman's philandering preacher. Nonetheless, "Cold Mountain" stands as a solid work invested with significant emotional gravity -- this despite the fact that the relationship between the two leads self-admittedly consists of just a handful of brief meetings. Minghella's careful, weighty direction is crucial to this, but even more important is the splendid acting. Law and Kidman persuasively portray Inman and Ada, conjuring a simmering inner fire beneath their stolid veneer. And amongst a first-rate supporting cast, Zellweger in particular shines, demonstrating unexpected gumption as the singularly memorable tomboy Ruby Thewes.
Copyright © 2004 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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