COLD MOUNTAIN (Theatrical Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Stars ìììì

Cold Mountain—a United States Civil War flick—provides views into the war through the eyes of a clergyman’s daughter, Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), as she struggles to live with no training in survival. The film just misses the epic status and definitely is worth watching despite some completely unnecessary and highly explicit, immoral scenes plugged into the middle of the movie. These scenes take the film beyond R-rating status and definitely take the movie out of what could have been a very good family watch. The film provides an interesting look into the lives of deserters as they find their way home, the reception they receive, and the unpleasant ending many of them succumb to. At box office the movie makes about $2 for every $1 invested, a large difference from movies that take more care to include family audiences within their viewing range. Watch out for unexpected, extreme nudity and sexual content.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ada Monroe, who has fallen in love with Inman (Jude Law) just before he is called to war, struggles to wait for him to come home while slowly starving to death. The introduction of a farm girl, Rube Thewes (Renee Zellweger), who takes a strong hand in helping Ada Monroe learn the basics of farm life, is a piece of art as are the interactions between Rube Thewes and her father Stobrod Thewes (Brendan Gleeson).

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director Anthony Minghella. Thank you to Executive Producers Bob Osher, Iain Smith, Bob Weinstein, and Harvey Weinstein for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Reverend Veasey (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Sara (Natalie Portman), Junior (Giovanni Ribisi), Reverend Monroe (Donald Sutherland), Teague (Ray Winstone), Sally Swanger (Kathy Baker), and Esco Swanger (James Gammon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The overall storyline works at the classic level.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers