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Freely adapted from Charles Frazier's beloved bestseller, Cold Mountain boasts an impeccable pedigree as a respectable American Civil War love story, offering everything you'd want from a romantic epic except a resonant emotional core. Everything in this sweeping, Odyssean journey depends on believing in the instant love that ignites during a very brief encounter between genteel, city-bred preacher's daughter Ada (Nicole Kidman) and Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law), who deserts the battlefield to return, weary and wounded, to Ada's inherited farm in the rural town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina. In an epic (but dramatically tenuous) case of absence making hearts grow fonder, Inman endures a treacherous hike fraught with danger (and populated by supporting players including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and others) while the struggling, inexperienced Ada is aided by the high-spirited Ruby (Renée Zellweger), forming a powerful farming partnership that transforms Ada into a strong, lovelorn survivor. The film's episodic structure slightly weakens its emotional impact, and it's fairly obvious that director Anthony Minghella is striving to repeat the prestigious romanticism of his Oscar®-winning hit The English Patient. For the most part it works, especially in the dynamic performances of Zellweger and Kidman, and the explosive 1864 battle of Petersburg, Virginia, is recreated with violent, percussive intensity. Those who admired Frazier's novel may regret some of the changes made in Minghella's adaptation (the ending is particularly altered), but Cold Mountain remains a high-class example of grand, old-fashioned film-making, boosted by star power of the highest order. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Sweeping American Civil War drama based on the novel by Charles Frazier, directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, The Talented Mr Ripley). Jude Law stars as Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier who is slowly making the perilous journey back to his home town of Cold Mountain in North Carolina, meeting a string of colourful characters along the way (played by actors including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Ray Winstone and Kathy Baker). At home waits Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), the pre-war sweetheart to whom he has vowed to return. In his absence Ada, the shy and reserved daughter of a preacher (Donald Sutherland), has befriended the feisty Ruby (Renée Zellweger), a tough-talking young woman who can work the land as well as any man. Ruby supports Ada both emotionally and practically as she waits for Inman's return - but as the war drags on and her letters go unanswered, Ada finds it increasingly difficult to keep the faith.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
COLD MOUNTAIN inspired more admiration than affection. And seeing it on Christmas Eve was a downer.
The film begins on July 30, 1864, when Union troops, having tunneled under the Confederate fortifications around Petersburg, VA, blast a giant hole in the stubborn, Southern defensive line with a monster mine. In one of the Civil War's biggest boondoggles, the Battle of the Crater, the Federals managed to transform what was potentially a war-winning assault into complete disaster. Shortly thereafter, Reb soldier Inman (Jude Law) is shot in the throat. While recovering in a field hospital, he receives a letter from his sweetheart, Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), back in Cold Mountain, North Carolina. Ada bemoans the hardships that have beset her since her father's death, and beseeches Inman to come home. Sick of war, Inman skedaddles, and begins the dangerous trudge back to Ada's Blue Ridge Mountains farm, about 400 miles as the crow flies. In the meantime, Ida, a lady of genteel upbringing, who can arrange flowers and play the piano but can't boil water or plant a vegetable, is running her patrimony into the ground.
COLD MOUNTAIN isn't the story of two soul mates together, but rather separate tales of two people desperately seeking each other out on the basis of the briefest of pre-war acquaintances -a few words and a single kiss.
Law's Inman is the strong, silent type whose forte is a long-suffering perseverance that perhaps inspires viewer admiration more than sympathy, even as he encounters the varied perils of his trek: Yankee cavalry, Confederate Home Guardsman hunting deserters, a lonely war widow in distress, and treacherous homesteaders.
... Read more ›50 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Cold Mountain is by all accounts a love story. I say STORY with strongemphasis; I have seen too many films which may have quite enough love butvery little by way of story. Cold Mountain is the name of the village thatthe film focuses upon with the basic plot of the film being the varioushappenings and goings on there during the American Civil War. A greatstrength of this film is its ability to set the scene and allow theaudience's mind to fully appreciate this beautifully constructed periodpiece. The characters are equally absorbing, and the audience findthemselves really caring for their welfare. Leading characters Inman (Law)and Ada (Kidman) are wonderfully acted, giving depth to the love storybetween the two. Secondary characters are not without their charm.Zellweger gives a wonderful performance in an unusual role, providingtouching comedy at regular intervals.
The soundtrack to the film adds greatly to its atmosphere, with bluegrassfeaturing prominently, and the songs showing a wonderfully resoluteoptimism to the sorrows of the civil war. As well as featuring in thesoundtrack, Jack White (of 'The White Stripes' fame) makes his actingdebut. Although his acting ability is not on par with Kidman or Law, hepossesses the ability to convey emotion through his music at an equal ifnot greater level.
As a whole this is one of the greatest films I have seen in a long time.It is beautifully acted, has an interesting and moving story and ismasterfully approached by director Minghella. A journey in film if everthere was one, this is definitely worth the trip to the cinema.
The soundtrack to the film adds greatly to its atmosphere, with bluegrassfeaturing prominently, and the songs showing a wonderfully resoluteoptimism to the sorrows of the civil war. As well as featuring in thesoundtrack, Jack White (of 'The White Stripes' fame) makes his actingdebut. Although his acting ability is not on par with Kidman or Law, hepossesses the ability to convey emotion through his music at an equal ifnot greater level.
As a whole this is one of the greatest films I have seen in a long time.It is beautifully acted, has an interesting and moving story and ismasterfully approached by director Minghella. A journey in film if everthere was one, this is definitely worth the trip to the cinema.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By film fan
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Anthony Minghella appears to have done it again. He's taken what seemed another un-filmable book and has transferred it to the screen and has given it a polished and authentic look.
There was outrage during the filming of this movie. Anthony Minghella was blamed for not filming in the States as it was an American story. His reply was that the mountain ranges in Romania closely resembled the mountain ranges in the book so he filmed there. He had a valid point. Why film an adaptation in the country where the story's based when somewhere else there's a closer resemblance? So I could see where Minghella was coming from.
It works extremely well. Again I saw this film before I read the book. Before I read the book, I thought it was a marvellous film beautifully shot and told with conviction. I then read the book and about half-way through, I thought to myself how on earth did Anthony Minghella manage to adapt this to the screen? For in my view, the book was beautifully written and the descriptions of the era were magically told. The director managed it brilliantly.
Jude Law is engagingly good as Inman making his way back to Cold Mountain through the ravages of the Civil War to his loved one Ada. Nicole Kidman is also worth watching as the girl who struggles to survive waiting for Inman's return. But it is Renee Zellweger who steals the acting honours as Ruby who comes to Ada's rescue and keeps her company as they are waiting for Inman's return. With a cast of household names on the billing, it makes for compelling drama. I felt that it could have won more than it's solitary single Oscar for Supporting Actress. I thought the cinematography and the editing were first-rate. A film well worth seeing.
There was outrage during the filming of this movie. Anthony Minghella was blamed for not filming in the States as it was an American story. His reply was that the mountain ranges in Romania closely resembled the mountain ranges in the book so he filmed there. He had a valid point. Why film an adaptation in the country where the story's based when somewhere else there's a closer resemblance? So I could see where Minghella was coming from.
It works extremely well. Again I saw this film before I read the book. Before I read the book, I thought it was a marvellous film beautifully shot and told with conviction. I then read the book and about half-way through, I thought to myself how on earth did Anthony Minghella manage to adapt this to the screen? For in my view, the book was beautifully written and the descriptions of the era were magically told. The director managed it brilliantly.
Jude Law is engagingly good as Inman making his way back to Cold Mountain through the ravages of the Civil War to his loved one Ada. Nicole Kidman is also worth watching as the girl who struggles to survive waiting for Inman's return. But it is Renee Zellweger who steals the acting honours as Ruby who comes to Ada's rescue and keeps her company as they are waiting for Inman's return. With a cast of household names on the billing, it makes for compelling drama. I felt that it could have won more than it's solitary single Oscar for Supporting Actress. I thought the cinematography and the editing were first-rate. A film well worth seeing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Civil War Odyssey
What gems do we have here ? First two of my favorite actors; Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Then an epic script spawning several historical,years that helped shape the United States. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Christian Nugue
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Civil War odyssey
This ambitious, epic, mostly successful film is based on not one but two of my favourite books: Charles Frazier`s great novel of the same name, which is in its turn loosely based... Read more
Published 3 months ago by GlynLuke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book brilliant - DVD - brilliant!
I read the book and loved it so was a bit worried the film would not live up to it - shouldn't have worried. I really don't like Nicole Kidman but she was brill in this. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joyce Russell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Film. Brilliant Blu Ray
Just finished watching this today after a long hiatus - four years and some to be exact. I'm lucky enough to have had this on all formats: VHS, DVD and now Blu Ray. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Fox in the Box
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent timing as usual
So easy to order through Amazon, my sister was desperate to find a copy of Cold Mountain but being short on cash, you came through with a selection of prices, she is so happy and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Pamela
3.0 out of 5 stars
So-So
The American Civil war interrupts the budding, tentative relationship between an elegant parson's daughter and an inarticulate local farmer in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Ja McLaughlin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Superb cast
The cast is fantastic, love especially Zellweger and Hoffman, really good parts for both of them and they do them justice. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Vegar
4.0 out of 5 stars
Come back..................to Cold Mountain.
The late Anthony Minghella's 2003 epic adaption of Charles Frazier's novel remains a film that I tend to need to be in the mood for, but which when I do watch it is a film that I... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Movie Mad Tommy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie
I really enjoyed this movie. it was just as good as i expected and it came before the estimated time!
Published 20 months ago by JonnySniiper
5.0 out of 5 stars
I imagine God is weary of being called down on both sides of an...
Cold Mountain is directed by Anthony Minghella who also adapts to screenplay from Charles Frazier's novel of the same name. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Spike Owen
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