Cold Mountain.....left me a bit chilly.
Jan 25, 2004 21:02:57 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Jan 25, 2004 21:02:57 GMT -5
Before you read my review, know this, it is one of the best movies out there. Definetly two thumbs up!
But........
Here is a review that I agree with:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/12/03/cold_mountain_review.shtml
Mills & Boon meets Greek myth in Anthony Minghella's episodic epic, which takes excellent actors and dunks them in romance so gloopy they drown. Adapted from Charles Frazier's acclaimed novel (an American Civil War-set riff on Homer's Odyssey), it sees Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law) trekking from the front lines to the town of Cold Mountain to reunite with his would-be lover, Ada (Nicole Kidman). It's a journey full of incident, but no soul.
Attempting to avoid his army's lynch mobs and Yankee patrols, Inman encounters both hardship and humour, in the form of a promiscuous priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman), desperate single mum (Natalie Portman), and lusty ladies, among others.
Meanwhile, Ada moons around writing him lengthy letters, until the rough'n'ready Ruby (Renée Zellweger) arrives to help her run the farm - and fend off the aggressive advances of Ray Winstone's big-bearded villain.
"IT COULD BE A MONTY PYTHON SKETCH"
It's war and pieces, as we flick back and forth, scenes enlivened by quality character actors (the brilliant Brendan Gleeson, Giovanni Ribisi) and Zellweger's lively, film-stealing turn.
If only Kidman could give her (considerably less interesting) character similar zest. Instead, she pouts her way through the part of Southern Belle, like a child playing dress up.
Law (so superb in Minghella's The Talented Mr Ripley) is more impressive as the war-worn veteran. But his most significant achievement is not laughing when required to shout, "Move away from the baby!", in a scene so straight-faced and silly it could be a Monty Python sketch.
"NOTHING TROUBLES THE TEAR DUCTS"
Together, they are deadly: devoid of the chemistry necessary to make you care. Their vomit-inducing soft-focus longing contrasts oddly with the effective, intelligent use of harsh, shocking violence; their turgid dialogue is even mocked by another character. Yet that cannot excuse it.
Every 'moving' moment is suffocated by the stringy score, but nothing troubles the tear ducts. Cold Mountain is so full of hot air, any emotion is blown away - gone, with the wind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This movie could have been so much more and yet it became a sloppy love story. Where is the gut wrenching pain that this could have potrayed? I was looking for a message to sear through my soul and all I got to see Kidman's a$$. Pffft, I have a mirror..........
Yes, it is two thumbs up but it could have been so much more......so much more.....*sigh*
But........
Here is a review that I agree with:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/12/03/cold_mountain_review.shtml
Mills & Boon meets Greek myth in Anthony Minghella's episodic epic, which takes excellent actors and dunks them in romance so gloopy they drown. Adapted from Charles Frazier's acclaimed novel (an American Civil War-set riff on Homer's Odyssey), it sees Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law) trekking from the front lines to the town of Cold Mountain to reunite with his would-be lover, Ada (Nicole Kidman). It's a journey full of incident, but no soul.
Attempting to avoid his army's lynch mobs and Yankee patrols, Inman encounters both hardship and humour, in the form of a promiscuous priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman), desperate single mum (Natalie Portman), and lusty ladies, among others.
Meanwhile, Ada moons around writing him lengthy letters, until the rough'n'ready Ruby (Renée Zellweger) arrives to help her run the farm - and fend off the aggressive advances of Ray Winstone's big-bearded villain.
"IT COULD BE A MONTY PYTHON SKETCH"
It's war and pieces, as we flick back and forth, scenes enlivened by quality character actors (the brilliant Brendan Gleeson, Giovanni Ribisi) and Zellweger's lively, film-stealing turn.
If only Kidman could give her (considerably less interesting) character similar zest. Instead, she pouts her way through the part of Southern Belle, like a child playing dress up.
Law (so superb in Minghella's The Talented Mr Ripley) is more impressive as the war-worn veteran. But his most significant achievement is not laughing when required to shout, "Move away from the baby!", in a scene so straight-faced and silly it could be a Monty Python sketch.
"NOTHING TROUBLES THE TEAR DUCTS"
Together, they are deadly: devoid of the chemistry necessary to make you care. Their vomit-inducing soft-focus longing contrasts oddly with the effective, intelligent use of harsh, shocking violence; their turgid dialogue is even mocked by another character. Yet that cannot excuse it.
Every 'moving' moment is suffocated by the stringy score, but nothing troubles the tear ducts. Cold Mountain is so full of hot air, any emotion is blown away - gone, with the wind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This movie could have been so much more and yet it became a sloppy love story. Where is the gut wrenching pain that this could have potrayed? I was looking for a message to sear through my soul and all I got to see Kidman's a$$. Pffft, I have a mirror..........
Yes, it is two thumbs up but it could have been so much more......so much more.....*sigh*
. Im in college right now and my teacher practically forced us to watch the movie because we'll have an essay in which we'll need to mention Cold Mountain. Its simply about the narrative and dramatic structure, nothing about history. 
.