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Cold Mountain (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:216
Fresh:154
Rotten:62
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: The well-crafted Cold Mountain has an epic sweep and captures the horror and brutal hardship of war.
Runtime: 2 hrs 35 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: 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... 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 with little use for many words--to return from war. In the process she learns basic survival skills and finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby (Renée 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. [More]
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Donald Sutherland
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Donald Sutherland, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kathy Baker, Natalie Portman, Jack White, Ethan Suplee, Charlie Hunnam, Giovanni Ribisi, Eileen Atkins, Melora Walters, James Gammon, Lucas Black, Cillian Murphy, James Rebhorn, Jena Malone
Director: Anthony Minghella
Director: Anthony Minghella
Screenwriter: Anthony Minghella
Producer: Albert Berger, William Horberg, Sydney Pollack, Ron Yerxa
Composer: Gabriel Yared
Studio: Miramax Films
Reviews for Cold Mountain
Cold Mountain is the equivalent of comfort food: old-fashioned, earthy, satisfying.
Cold Mountain is a handsome work of impressive sweep dotted with fine performances. It offers a few fine moments of wit, fear and emotional intimacy. But it rarely pulses with vital life.
Minghella treats the epic romance between Ada and Inman so seriously that he comes dangerously close to letting the lovers suck the life out of the movie.
The ratio of small, efficient moments outweighs the icy, grandiose ones. Minghella and his cast have no trouble scaling the little hills.
Nicole Kidman and Jude Law are as beautiful and affecting as they’ve ever been and they’re surrounded by a greatish supporting cast.
Civil War story of love and struggle is a carefully, expertly crafted piece of Oscar bait that's still satisfying.
Crisp direction, wonderful cinematography, a well-written script and brilliant acting all combine to make this an engaging story of love and loss.
It's enough of a spectacle to enjoy. It's too bad the stars are little more than serviceable and give the movie title an irony it could certainly do without.
First and foremost, about the ravages of wartime...but framed to an intimate scale, tracing the devastating consequences such violence takes upon individuals.
Watching this movie, it seems to be the next level down from great -- maybe too episodic. But it burns in the memory weeks after you see it.
Kidman and Law are chilly performers, and their fundamental remoteness drains the sublimated passion from Inman and Ada's hope-sustaining romance. It also allows the supporting cast to steal the movie out from under them.
Crowded with fascinating supporting characters, who make the long haul -- the movie clocks in at 2 1/2 hours -- worth attempting.
Minghella's detail-rich film is like a beautiful piece of fabric, lovingly crafted by hand. And Zellweger is like a big ol' stain, right in the middle of it.
A work of palpable passion, fueled by tremendous performances, and it's among the best movies of the year.
Law's performance ... sustains us throughout the movie, just as love sustains Inman during his long separation from Ada.
Law conveys his character's romantic illusions and battlefield disillusionments very effectively, and Kidman makes us believe her character's initial awkwardness and gradual growth.
Latest News for Cold Mountain
March 18, 2008:
Anthony Minghella: A Tomatometer Retrospective
English filmmaker Anthony Minghella had a sparse but critically acclaimed career by the time of his passing today at the age of 54. We turn to the six films Minghella directed,... More...
March 18, 2008:
Anthony Minghella: 1954-2008
Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain, has passed away at the age of 54. More...
December 12, 2007:
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February 07, 2007:
A searing and haunting period saga with a mournful, universal anti-war lament. ![]()
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