Offensive

Rating: 5/10 (25 September 2004)

Anthony Minghella's adaptation of the novel by Charles Frazier (loosely based on Homer's Odyssey) succeeds only partially. The soundtrack is very good, containing a combination of traditional folk songs and
original imitation folk songs, as well as decent score by Gabriel Yared. The brutality of the "home guard" is depicted very truthfully.
However, there are many unsettling problems. 1) The role of African Americans is marginalized. I don't think there was a single line of black dialog. 2) The soldiers of the Union are portrayed as being no better than those of the treacherous South. 3)Renee Zellwegger is obnoxious. 4)I've never seen so many animals callously mutilated in a movie!
If you want to see an adaptation of The Odyssey set in Dixie, O Brother Where Art Thou is much better. 5/10