Cold Mountain
2003
Directed by Anthony Minghella (THE ENGLISH PATIENT), this Civil War saga addresses romance, friendship, and the ravages of war--both in the field and on the home front. Far more than a simple love story, Minghella's film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it, and for those left behind. Based on the Charles .. Read more
| Starring | Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Natalie Portman |
|---|---|
| Director | Anthony Minghella |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
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Cold Mountain
Directed by Anthony Minghella (THE ENGLISH PATIENT), this Civil War saga addresses romance, friendship, and the ravages of war--both in the field and on the home front. Far more than a simple love story, Minghella's film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it, and for those left behind. Based on the Charles Frazier novel, this is a tale of hope, longing, redemption, second chances, and faith.
Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) is a proper lady who accompanies her preacher father (Donald Sutherland) to Cold Mountain, North Carolina. She waits for her love, W.P. Inman (Jude Law)--a sensitive man of few words--to return from war. In the process she learns basic survival skills and finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby (Renee Zellweger), a spitfire who can work the land as well as any man. Meanwhile, wounded Inman has had enough of war and killing, and is slowly working his way back to Ada despite the perils of being a Confederate deserter. Law and Kidman are genuinely touching as two virtual strangers who invest all of their faith in each other, and Zellweger is astounding as the uncultured but compassionate Ruby. Rounding out the cast is an impressive array of actors, including Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jack White (of the White Stripes), Kathy Baker, Giovanni Ribisi, and many others.
| Starring | Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, Brendan Gleeson, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Winstone, Donald Sutherland, Jena Malone, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, Lucas Black, Emily Deschanel |
|---|---|
| Director | Anthony Minghella |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 32 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | Anthony Minghella Collection |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
| Language | English, English Audio Description |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 05 Jul 2004 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
Cold Mountain (2003)
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Critics' reviews (4)
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The dream-team pairing of Jude Law and Nicole Kidman here delivers decidely less on screen than it must have promised on paper. But it's not entirely the fault of the two leads, as Charles Frazier's award-winning novel dictates that they are kept apart for long stretches of this American Civil War drama. Law and Kidman play southern sweethearts who become separated when he heads off to fight for the Confederacy. The film then follows both his odyssey back from the front, with all the people and perils he encounters en route, and her struggle to survive on the cold mountain of the title. Along the way, Kidman is helped out by a drifter, played rather over-tetchily by Renée Zellweger. Director Anthony Minghella's film is beautifully shot by John Seale and has some great moments, but sadly these are too few and far between. With a running time of over two-and-a-half hours, the abiding impression is of an experience that seems to last almost as long as the Civil War itself.
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Episodic movie that has its moments, particularly in its opening battle sequence, but more often loses its way in unenlightening encounters. A miscast Nicole Kidman looks as though she's on her way to a fashion shoot, while the boisterous Renée Zellweger
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Most helpful member's review
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52 out of 63 people found this review helpful
Cameo central
'Cold Mountain' is a wonder to behold. Seriously. Remember that it comes directed by Anthony Minghella, the guy who brought us yawnfest 'The English Patient'. I know that it won awards, but it was still three hours of dust.
'Cold Mountain', on the other hand, is three hours of spotting brilliant cameos from Philip Seymour Hoffman to Giovanni Ribisi, from Natalie Portman to the much discussed Jack White (which is how he and Zellwegger got together). It's beautifully made and easily digestible, despite the emotionally difficult material. The opening scene deals with a massacre within the American Civil War. You don't know any of these characters and yet Minghella manages to infuse the scene with enough empathy to make me feel sad for the dead, and hope for the living.
Essentially an American Odyssey as Law makes his way back to his sweetheart Kidman, this story of two halves compliment each other. We join Law on his long walk home, then Kidman as she struggles to live through the war where there are just as many dangers at home from the Sheriff Ray Winstone andhis trigger happy henchmen (including Charlie 'Nicholas Nickleby' Hunnam).
Watch this if you like something to get your teeth into, or take an interest in the American Civil War. It's no chick flick, but a thoughtful and well-acted epic which shows the range of human emotions afflicted at times of stress. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A romantiv love story about a soldier in the American Civil War trying to fight his way back home to the love of his life. If this is the sort of film you would usually avoid at all cost (as i usually do), then think again. The opening 15 minutes are terrific and if you enjoy films of this ilk about this period of American history etc then there is plenty of action and gun fights to keep you hooked. The love interest are shown in flash backs and never get in the way of the great action. Jude Law also plays a great part along with the other big name stars. A cracking film.
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News and features
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Jack White's film debut to premiere at Comic-Con
- 03 Jul 2009
Rocker Jack White's lost movie debut is to premiere at San Diego, California's comic book convention Comic-Con later this month (Jul09). The White Stripes, Raconteurs and Dead Weather star has appeared in films like Cold Mountain and Walk Hard, in which he portrayed Elvis Presley, but his first acting role was in a low budget 1997 movie, called Mutant Swinger From Mars. Billed under his real name, John Gillis, White plays Mikey in director Michael Kallio's sci-fi spoof, according to... Read more
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Cold Mountain
Directed by Anthony Minghella (THE ENGLISH PATIENT), this Civil War saga addresses romance, friendship, and the ravages of war--both in the field and on the home front. Far more than a simple love story, Minghella's film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it, and for those left ...
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