CNN) -- The
film adaptation of "Cold
Mountain" is an epic
love story that conveys the horrors of war in an up-close and personal way
often attempted in movies but rarely achieved.
Based on Charles Frazier's 1997 novel, this highly sentimental
tale set during the American Civil War is also achingly romantic and has Oscar
written all over it.
With Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and Jude Law, the movie
contains some of the best acting of the year and is beautifully mounted by
Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella ("The English
Patient").
"Cold
Mountain" blatantly
tugs at your heartstrings while exploring the heartlessness of war. At times,
the story verges on sliding into a vapid emotional soup, but Minghella (who
also adapted the script from the original book) and his superb cast never quite
let that happen.
Kidman stars as Ada, a well-bred
preacher's daughter who falls in love with a simple working man from Cold Mountain, North
Carolina, named Inman -- played with great skill by
Law. When the Civil War breaks out, Inman and every other able-bodied man in
the area join the Confederate army.
Zellweger plays the feisty Ruby, a no-nonsense, earthy country
woman who helps the sheltered Ada
during the darkest days of the war when she almost gives up hope of seeing
Inman again. The scene when Ruby first meets Ada is wonderful and establishes their
relationship instantly.
In the waning days of the savage conflict, Inman escapes from a
hospital and begins to walk hundreds of miles back home to Cold Mountain.
There, Ada and
Ruby are faced with a group of lawless thugs called the Home Guard, who have
taken it upon themselves to terrorize civilians in the name of the Confederacy.
Ultimately, the film is a tale of the journeys of the three main
characters: Inman's physical trek as he tries to return home against all odds,
and Ada's and
Ruby's struggles of the heart and soul as they fight to survive the bitter
hardships in a ravaged land.
Minghella's mesmerizing
adaptation
Adapting a well-loved novel to the big screen is Minghella's
specialty: The director did it with "The English Patient" in 1996 and
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" in 1999. He once again has achieved the
miracle of transforming a difficult book with an inner narrative into a deeply
satisfying film.
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![Jude Law]()
Jude Law plays a Confederate soldier in "Cold Mountain."
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There are also three small performances of great note: Philip
Seymour Hoffman as a disgraced minister, Natalie Portman as a helpless farmer's
wife rescued by Inman and Giovanni Ribisi as a despicable backwoodsman who
betrays Inman.
Also look for the character of Georgia, played by Jack White of
the White Stripes: His originally was a singing role, but the rocker ended up
with a few lines in the finished film. He's also romantically linked with
Zellweger.
Superlatives extend beyond cast
Shot mostly on location in Romania,
"Cold Mountain" reeks of authenticity.
Moviegoers will feel swept back into the 1860s. Cinematographer John Seale, who
also worked on "Ripley" and won an Academy Award with Minghella for
"The English Patient," is a master at framing shots while intermixing
intimate images with grand visual sequences.
Composer Gabriel Yared, who also received an Oscar for "The English
Patient," provides a sweeping score that underlines the deep emotions and
grand themes in this marvelous movie. But it's the authentic folk and bluegrass
music produced by T-Bone Burnett ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?") that
captures the mood and essence of the times.
In the few remaining days of Academy Award consideration,
"Cold Mountain" emerges as a main contender with "The Lord of
the Rings: The Return of the King" as a front-runner for the year's best
picture.
"Cold
Mountain" opens
nationwide Thursday. It is rated R, with a running time of 155 minutes.
Jen --
