Over-hyped

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2004)

This film is NOTHING like the previews, which sucked me in believing I was going to see a war/romance flick. There's very little war in it. After 55+ years, I should learn to ignore previews! This film is mostly about an improbably sappy romance between Jude Law's character and Nicole Kidman's character. They barely know each other yet profess eternal love, etc. Law goes off to fight on the Confederate side of the Civil War, leaving poor Kidman to wait for him. Then Kidman's father, well portrayed by Donald Sutherland, dies, leaving poor Nicole all alone and unprepared to run the family farm. Law is seriously wounded, but in true hero fashion, DESERTS the army and begins the journey home to his squeeze. Meanwhile, Renee Zellweger's character shows up to help Nicole Kidman with the farm. The contrast between the two characters is very sharp and interesting. This film is OK but I sure would like to know what all the fuss was about. It's good, but not THAT good. I don't understand all the Academy Award nominations. I saw no glaring errors in the film and the historical part (that little bit of war that they showed) was pretty accurate with regards their treatment of the "Battle of the Crater". I gave this film a 6 and that's what it deserves. It is good but definitely not great.