Don't believe the hype.

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2004)

*Spoiler* Nominated for several academy awards, and set against the Civil War, Cold Mountain brings three highly-lauded actors to the screen under the meticulous direction of Anthony Minghella (Talented Mr. Ripley). Just before the outbreak of war, Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) moves to a quiet, North Carolina mountain village with her father, a minister. Catching the eye of W.P. Inman (Jude Law), a quiet young man with no family, we witness the infantile simplicity of budding love in the 19th Century. Only speaking a few words to each other, the war begins and Inman is whisked off to the battlefield. Having come from aristocracy, Monroe is completely and wholly unprepared for life when her father suddenly passes away. Without her parents (her mother is gone before the story begins), she begins a love-struck descent into poverty and starvation, as she lacks the ability to accomplish the simplest of tasks. Unable to even cook for herself, she is essentially a fully ambulatory invalid without the intellect to negotiate anything beyond beggary. As the audience packs their bags for a guilt trip of sympathy, Inman is experiencing true hell on earth. No one who has ever seen combat can deny the physical and mental rigors of war; and however resilient and loyal to his fellow man, Inman is obsessed with returning to his true love, with whom he has spent mere moments. The film trudges through sappy letters, personal reflection, and pathetic displays of worthlessness on the part of Ada. Enter Ruby Thewes (Renee Zellweger). The Tomboy comes to the rescue, and adds a light-hearted, comedic relief to the nearly morose existence of Monroe. As Ruby helps till the ground, prepare meals for themselves, and maintain the estate, only then does a bit of life reenter Ada's being. With relatively interesting subplots of desertion and survival, Cold Mountain is saved by solid acting (if the performances were truly reflective of the characters of Frazier's novel) and talented direction and camerawork. However, the main storyline nearly elicits nausea. Rated R for violence and sexuality, I give the film a C.