No chemistry kills the romance

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2004)

I'm not quite sure if it was bad casting or lazy writing. Either way, the love story that runs through COLD MOUNTAIN is like ice on a pond: looks great from a far but don't dare tread on it. Unfortunately, the film maker sinks deeply through the surface as the picture concerns itself with endless voice overs from Nicole Kidman to her love Jude Law. Repetitive and filled with the same words, you start to wonder what would have happened, if they had just concentrated on the crazy union army and its cast of evil characters. Nonetheless, Law does a wonderful job opposite Kidman with whom he has absolutely no chemistry. Renee Zellwegger is a bit annoying but bearable. The scenery is nice and the costumes cool (except for Kidman who looks like she's out of 1934 glamour magazine as opposed to 1864).