Solid Acting-An Excellent Portrayal of mid 19th Century America

Rating: 8/10 (5 March 2007)

I really enjoyed this film. It was about time Anthony Minghella had the success he so justly deserves after making some fairly good films throughout his career, most notably Truly Madly Deeply and the English Patient. Strange though that a thoroughly English director should take on a staunchly American subject and then also fill the main roles with a host of Non American actors. I can't vouch for the authenticity of accents, but the main characters did a fantastic job. I loved Winstone, you could even smell him, such was his menacing presence. Natalie Portman also did a great job in what was only a fleeting role in the film.
The battle scenes were brutal and I think well researched and recreated based on my knowledge of the American Civil War. It really plunged you into the horror and chaos of warfare in that era with muck and bullets abound.
The central story of Law and Kidmans character was strange in that it was based entirely on voice overs and the odd look or sigh from the characters. Apart from a brief period at both the start and the end of the film, the two just spent the time longing and it's clear that their love for each other is what helped them through their individual struggles as Law recovers from serious war injuries and Kidman tries to cope with running a farm on her own.
What I thought was also good about this film was the sense of suspense and empathy for the characters, built up through some excellent development. I genuinely thought Minghella might kill off any character at any given time and I was not certain that the plot would converge as it would normally. The shock shootings of Zelweggers father and the retarded musician were among the many twists and turns that kept the audience unsure of the outcome. However the plot did converge as you would expect but even then Minghella handled the reunion with 'real world' strategy and we don't see the pair running together in slow motion into an obvious camera flying around them, embrace. Instead we see what would have been more probable at the time and the period. A very conservative reunion with the bed scenes saved for later and executed very tastefully.
I loved the way the whole vibe of 19th century America was portrayed and it was the setting that really embedded the characters as much as anything. The hardship, the realities, everything was masterfully put together. Right down to the fantastic costumes, it was a winner for me. Zelwegger did steal the show and I couldn't help but think how rugged and weathered she looked. Either good make up, or she was hitting the drink during production! A tragic yet happy ending and for me a great film.