Cold Mountain

[jazzbo]

Anyone seen Cold Mountain yet? I went Friday and enjoyed the movie. It suffered a bit from the Hollywood glamorizing syndrome, but I did enjoy the way that the Civil War was represented--no justification or glorification was really applied, you saw the horror of war and no one explained it away with one or another super justification. . . .

Basically another reworking of the Odyssey epic by a good cast that turned in a solid job. I was especially glad to see Natalie Portman as I hadn't known she was going to be in the movie, and it was a pleasant surprise. Rene Zelwiger's character was a little over the top and so was she, but I think that was the way it was in the book and possibly the script. . . .The villains were ruthlessly villainous. . . . It's always unsettling to see how awful human beings can be. . . .

I'm interested to hear other impressions. . .

Edited December 29, 2003 by jazzbo

[Morganized]

Anyone seen Cold Mountain yet? I went Friday and enjoyed the movie. It suffered a bit from the Hollywood glamorizing syndrome, but I did enjoy the way that the Civil War was represented--no justification or glorification was really applied, you saw the horror of war and no one explained it away with one or another super justification. . . .

Basically another reworking of the Odyssey epic by a good cast that turned in a solid job. I was especially glad to see Natalie Portman as I hadn't known she was going to be in the movie, and it was a pleasant surprise. Rene Zelwiger's character was a little over the top and so was she, but I think that was the way it was in the book and possibly the script. . . .The villains were ruthlessly villainous. . . . It's always unsettling to see how awful human beings can be. . . .

I'm interested to hear other impressions. . .

Jazzbo,

Went to this one last night and enjoyed it very much. I had read the book a number of years ago and felt the book, unlike the movie, emphasized his journey home as much as the love story. Still I thought the movie was very well done. I really liked Rene Zellwenger. Thought she did a wounderful job. She may have been a little over the top, but overall I think it is one of the best things I have seen her in, including Chicago.

The acting in the movie was wonderful. Nicole Kidman has become the standard bearer of her generation. She is spctacular. Her ability to convey emotions is unmatched. IMHO. I can't recall the name of the actor who played the sinful preacher, but he is THE new character actor of his generation. I have been impressed by his talents in everything I have seen him in. He is almost always in the supporting role, but he is really strong in those rolls.

Jude Law was slightly disappointing I thought. His performance was nonetheless excellent in its own regard. IMO he was slightly outmatched by the other actors in the movie, but that is only because the other actors were so good.

I would be interested to hear what others thought about this one.