Another fantastic literary adaption from Anthony Minghella.

Rating: Null/10 (20 January 2004)

Jude Law in a career defining role, stars in Anthony Minghella's American Civil War love story as Inman, a wounded Confederate solider who deserts the army to make an epic 300-mile journey back to Cold Mountain, to his sweetheart Ada (Nicole Kidman). Inman's journey through the war-torn South is filled with trials and tribulations in which he encounters a variety of peculiar characters and faces enemies at every turn. Inman's odyssey runs parallel to Ada's plight to manage her deceased father's farm and fend off the advances of the monstrous local land owner-cum-sheriff, which she does with the help of the rowdy and raucous Ruby (Renée Zellweger), who provides the laughs in this otherwise bleak tale.
Adapted from Charles Frazier's critically acclaimed novel, Cold Mountain contrasts the grim reality of war with outstanding drama and brilliant cinematography, which is only overshadowed by a fantastic cast, including Ray Winston, Donald Sutherland and Natalie Portman. Minghella, the Academy Award winning director of The English Patient has yet again pulled off another fantastic literary adaptation, which except for a few corny accents and a love story that becomes a little tedious after two and a half hours won't be going home empty handed from this year's Academy Awards.

8/10