Worth Watching

Rating: 7/10 (23 August 2004)

This is a good but not excellent film. To begin, at 152 minutes, the film is too long. I could have easily cut out 30 minutes of the film with none the wiser. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law do well with their scripts, but are they too old for their parts? I haven't read the book "Cold Mountain" so maybe their characters are suppposed to be in their thirties. I have no problem if the characters are supposed to be in their thirties, but it would have been interesting if this had brought out more in the film as people used to get married much younger.
Further, I think parts showing Ada messing up domestic chores should have been included, a bit like Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind". Ada Monroe mentions her naivity in farm and house work, but adding some humorous learning experiences for Ada to a somewhat sad film could have added more realism to her transition from fair haired maiden to skilled markswoman.
Also, I'm not a prude, but the sex scene between Ada and Inman in my opinion is softly p*rnographic and unnecessary. I think more awkwardness would have occurred between Ada and Inman for their first time yet Ada appears to be a skilled and unhibited lover. I think less should have been shown and more imagined by the audience.
Renee Zellweger is excellent as Ruby and most believable as her character. Lesser known actor Brendon Gleeson as Ruby's father also does a fantastic job in his role.
The film's cinematography is excellent and the scenery gorgeous. Overall, a good film worth watching, but it could use some improvements.