Hey folks, Harry here... COLD MOUNTAIN is a lovely film, unfortunately it didn't capture me at the level I was hoping for. There are some moments that got me, but overall, found the film fairly unexciting, not very thrilling and a bit dull. However it is absolutely gorgeous, but then John Seale is a God. Liked everyone but the albino baddie in the film, who I just thought was borrowing a bit much from FOUL PLAY. ahem. If you want a great film on a man running from the consequences of the Civil War, I recommend OUTLAW JOSEY WALES! There's a real movie! hehehehe....

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a little yuletide look at Miramax's big Oscar contender this year, COLD MOUNTAIN.  

I am not familiar with the book and knew only that Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and the Civil War were somehow involved in the film when I walked into the theater. I love Jude Law, I love Nicole Kidman and despite having to sit through the seemingly 459 hour long GODS AND GENERALS this year, I love Civil War films.  

The movie is about a dude fighting for the south (Jude Law) and how his love for Nicole Kidman propels him to desert his troop and head back home. That's really the whole film summed up in one line... What can't be so easily thrown away is the brilliant supporting cast, the off the wall characters that Law meets on his trek back home... but I'll get to those in a minute.  

To be honest, the film kind of flounders in the first hour or so. We're started off with a bang, directly in a big battle. People are dying left and right, but since we've had absolutely zero time to get to know any of them the whole battle carries no emotion. Then we flashback to Jude Law's Ingman meeting Nicole Kidman's Ada when she's moved to the town of Cold Mountain by her preacher father (Donald Sutherland).  

It's kind of the point of the film that these two share only the most barest of moments and fall in love within those moments, but I never really believed their love. I might have believed lust on both their parts, but the love that'll make you risk being executed as a deserter or killed by the Yanks just because your one, true love is sad and lonely... well, I just didn't buy it.  

Matter of fact, the weakest parts of the film for me was when Ingman and Ada were together. That's when it felt the most awkward, the dialogue felt the most forced. So, for the first hour the film, for me, was just treading water, barely keeping my interest. But then the spinning tires catch some friction. Around an hour in is when both Renee Zellweger and Philip Seymour Hoffman are introduced and inject some life into the film.  

I was actually very surprised that Zellweger turned out to be one of the biggest salvations of the picture. I didn't expect that. If I knew Hoffman was in it, I would have known there was something to look forward to. He's always great (anyone see that Mattress ad on the PUNCHDRUNK LOVE DVD?).  

From about an hour in 'til that last 25 minutes or so, this movie is damn near flawless. Law's long trek introduces some great characters and surprise cameos. My favorites of the new characters is Giovanni Ribisi's woodsman living with a bunch of sex-starved womens and Natalie Portman being amazingly gorgeous and sympathetic as a troubled young mother trying to keep her baby alive through the winter.  

Law is fantastic throughout, as to be expected. One of my favorite overlooked films of the last few years is ENEMY AT THE GATES, which he's terrific in. I can not, can not, can not wait for SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. Jude Law is bulging at the seams. He's ready to bust out and take on the A-Listers.  

Kidman is good in the film and has a very nice arch... But in every scene she's in with Zellweger she kinda fades into the background. It's not necessarily an acting thing, more of a writing thing. Zellweger is flashy, funny, wacky... More interesting is what I'm getting at.  

But if I remember one character from this whole movie, it will be Philip Seymour Hoffman's Reverend Veasey. Hypocritical, loud and absolutely show stopping. Mark my words, he steals this film. Remember who told ya' so!  

In the end, this is a good film, but there was no part in the film that I felt any real attachment to any of the lead characters. This real life war setting doesn't carry a quarter of the emotion that is felt in the fantasy world of RETURN OF THE KING. I will be PISSED if COLD MOUNTAIN wins the Oscar. It deserves some supporting wins and leading nominations, but in 10 years COLD MOUNTAIN will more likely than not be forgotten by the masses. It's a good movie with some great supporting characters. Nothing more.  

That's it from me, squirts. I'm off to go actually enjoy some of my Christmas Eve! I'll be back with some looks Japanese horror flicks coming to DVD soon. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.  

-Quint

email: Email Quint here! He needs some love and support this time of year, being the lonely seaman he is!!!