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Saw Cold Mountain last night. It was good. Very good, even. But didn't knock my socks off. Maybe because my expectations were too high going in, after reading all the glowing reviews. Some parts seemed slow, especially in the beginning. The last third was the best. Cinematography in the last third of the movie was absolutely gorgeous. Especially after the snowfall, when the scenes contained a mix of white snow and dark buildings. It almost seemed as if they brought in a new cinematographer to film the end. I like it when movies end strong, and don't peter out. I usually don't like Renee Zellweger, finding her bland. But I liked her in this movie. She played someone with spunk. [Come to think of it, I liked her in White Oleander, too.] Jude Law probably brought the most raw acting talent to this film, with Nicole head-lining. Indeed, the film sported many familiar faces you would recognize. Some parts were downright disturbing, showcasing man's inhumanity against his fellow man (and woman). I mean, they certainly didn't shy away from the uglier side of life. For portraying this so courageously, I give them high marks. But they didn't build the story around it, thank God. Nothing in the story seemed contrived. For some reason, I am sensitive to elements of story that seem contrived. You know: the cat that makes a sound at just the right/wrong moment, so the hero is alerted to the schemes of bad-man and doesn't get shot, and winds up saving the day. In other words, stuff that would never happen in real life. It felt as if the writer had acquired personal experience from that period. I know this is a drama, and not a documentary, but I still value historical accuracy. Most interesting was the story's take on the Civil War from the perspective of the south. Everyone spoke with a southern accent. Growing up in the north, the Civil War seemed like ancient history to me. It wasn't until my first trip south that I learned some people down there are *still* upset over how that all worked out, wanting to kick my @ss for no other reason than I was "a yankee". You can imagine my surprise when I heard people say, "The south is gonna rise again!" I thought people only talked like that in The Beverly Hillbillys. I enjoy stretching my mind to understand how the other side feels, and why. They kept the theater chilly, so the movie (Cold Mountain) seemed a little more realistic than I prefer. The guy sitting directly behind us had the most horrifying breath imaginable. Every time he said something, a noxious plume would drift out of his mouth. Eventually had to move. |
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