wow! - powerful and involving

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2004)

Wow, what a movie! After "Chicago" last year, Miramax has done it again. Come Oscar time, look for Cold Mountain to get plenty of nominations - and hopefully a gold statue for Rene Zellwegger.
Roger Ebert has criticized Jude Law's and Nicole Kidman's characters as being like islands, complete unto themselves. I agree; while the two are talking, you just about want to grab them and say, "oh come on you two, start smooching already!"
But if they're islands, what islands they are. "Inman" is, on one hand, a man so gentle he can catch birds with his bare hands, but also a cunning warrior who will kill when he has to. "Ada" is an upperclass lady who falls on horrible times, and does what she must to survive. Yet nevertheless she remains a lady, with skin that never loses its soft pearlescent glow.
Rene Zellwegger - wow, can you imagine anyone more perfect for this part! I loved "Ruby's" outspoken words and manner. Yet Ruby and Ada hit it off like sisters. Their chemistry is delightful, and you sense they're having fun. Rene's chemistry with musician Jack White is also tangible, and a closing scene involving children may be prophetic.
There is some VERY beautiful photography in this. There is also a lot of blood. As with "Master and Commander," the fighting is often point-blank and frightfully realistic. Several good people die. (Several bad people die too, happily, but still....ewwww!) Funny how you can see three James Bond films in a row and never blink an eye, and then you see this and just about reach for a glass of water.
My only other complaint with Cold Mountain has to do with a love scene between the lead characters. I find it too graphic, and out of harmony with the rest of the film. Inman's and Ada's love is built on faith, promises and high ideals. Likewise then, their love making should have been romantic, idealized and cloaked with mystery.
Frankly, it seemed like the director or somebody wanted a sex scene, so okay, they did a sex scene. Ugh. In contrast, the sex that happens earlier in the movie suits the primal nature of those characters and that situation. It seems funny to say this, but in this context, I did not want to see close-ups of Nicole Kidman's tush.
Whatever. Nine out of ten is still an awfully good film. Enjoy it!