tkeane-1 Review of Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain (2003)

Just one problem

[7/10 · 6 February 2006]

This is a really well executed film. There are some scenes that are absolutely just perfect, like the main war sequence. I think it is beautifully filmed and the story is OK but the characters make it. I particularly like the smaller characters as played by Brendan Gleeson, Renee Zellweger and Philip Seymour Hoffman is, as always, amazing. The two female leads are actors that annoy me as much as they impress me but have most definitely impressed this time around. The one problem I speak of is Jude Law. There are any number of great actors that could have played the part and they wouldn't have even had to fake an accent. By no measure does he ruin the film and actually does a good job through most of the film. It's when he and the Nicole Kidman character aren't going at it that the relationship is farcical. Their debates as to whether they are behaving appropriately as a couple and their attempts to outdo one another in the "most poetic expression of love" competition were unnecessary.

The casting was great but almost unnecessary. As was the marketing ploy of the bit part player Jack White, who performs the musical parts well but acts badly. Other personnel include Cillian Murphy, Natalie Portman and Giovanni Ribisi who do really well but, again in bit parts. Ray Winstone is unrecognisable as "the baddie" and plays the part really well. Charlie Hunnam is someone I'd never heard of before but I'll be keeping an eye on, pure evil.

Overall a very good watch and good value for money with over 2 1/2 hours entertainment.