A totally dislikable film!

Rating: Null/10 (6 July 2004)

I won't bother you with the plot as it's been done so many times, you might as well not rent this DVD as I did. I will bother you with my reaction to this highly anticipated DVD that I actually bought, without seeing it. Mistake!!!!
It turned me off in every way. Director Anthony Minghella seems to favor films with heavy handed suffering and death. Slow death, actually. In TALENTED MR RIPLEY and ENGLISH PATIENT. No sympathy for any of the characters in spite of good acting from Jude Law and Matt Damon.
Minghella adapted this screenplay from a book by Charles Frazier. I wonder what Mr. Frazier's reaction to the film was. Haven't read the book to compare.
So much slaughtering of animals and human beings to the point that I was screaming at the TV set to end the bloodshed. The scene with the perfect loving look of the little goat with the old bag who owned it, stroking the sweet face then killing the innocent animal was too much. I turned off the TV and kept the film rolling without watching, long enough to let that scene pass by. In fact I found myself turning the set off many times during the film's playing, simply because I just didn't want to see any more animals slaughtered, abused and/or butchered. I don't see entertainment in this at all. You accept the killing of people as you know really it's only acting. But I do question if those animals were actually killed for the sake of the movie.
Then there's the ending, which totally ruined the picture for me. After all that suffering and struggle to do what they did (or the author intended) was totally unacceptable to me. I hated the ending and was sorry I had paid even a dime for the DVD. Now I have a copy that will sit on my shelf for I have no intention to view it again. I might try to sell it on Ebay.
As to the acting, Jude Law was wonderful. I have always liked this actor and never stop being amazed at his work. More Jude Law! Renee Zellweger, Academy Award and all, also was very good. I didn't like her in CHICAGO, but loved her in this. She brought a great vitality to the film. Too bad she doesn't come into the scene till half way through. Nicole Kidman I have always liked in most of what she does, but felt this was a bit of wrong casting. I also felt there was no warmth between the two stars in the love department. Too bad as they are both such beautiful people. Minghella was too busy getting the gore instead of the romance.
The distinguished Donald Sutherland (it's always great to see him still working) had a small role as Nicole's father, a Reverend. Philip Seymour Hoffman, an actor I have never liked, manages to keep proving to me his bad acting. He continues to give terrible performances. I am told his LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT on Broadway, was as bad.
Please, Mr. Minghella, stop directing these horrendous and bad taste films. On a range of 1-10 I give this a 3 for the three stars of the picture and their attempt to make a long boring script into a believable picture.