Cold Mountain - A Review

Rating: 8/10 (23 January 2004)

Ada and Inman love each other. But like most young people, they take life and time for granted and leave things unsaid. Only when Inman is called to fight for the South in the American Civil War do they realize the magnitude of their loss. Separated and constantly assailed by the horrors of war, death of loved ones and the cruelty of weak men, they hold on to the hope of finding each other to keep them alive.

Director Anthony Minghella creates truly memorable images that are certain to linger on in the viewer's memory. The scenes where Ada and Inman interact are carefully played down and manage to maintain a clear originality. The superb visual style of the film owes much to the excellent work of cinematographer John Seale, who worked with Minghella in 'The English Patient' and in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'.

Jude Law does a good job of portraying Inman, a man of few words, and the scriptwriters made sure his lines are well worth the utter. Equally impressive is Nicole Kidman, whose character (Ada) undergoes a complete transformation from a shy, spoiled girl to a brave and resilient woman. But Renee Zellweger is the one who steals the show as the laborer Ruby - in fact, she's so good you almost forget her character is rather two-dimensional.

All in all, Cold Mountain is a very satisfying cinematic experience that works on all levels - good acting, well-structured screenplay, assured direction, beautiful soundtrack and superb cinematography. And unlike most long films, it keeps a fast pace right to the very end. A realistic, sometimes brutal, love story, Cold Mountain is a true work of art.