Cold Mountain, 2003

Jude Law is the primary reason to see this movie. I've always enjoyed him, but nothing prepared me for how he carries this film. (To think that Tom Cruise was originally slated for this role is beyond ridiculous...) Every time he was on screen, I was riveted to catch every flicker on his face. Law may have little too say, but is incredibly eloquent, facially and physically. All of the supporting roles are impeccably cast, but the two female leads left me somewhat disappointed. Kidman and Zellweger do their job, but I never felt that they inhabited their roles. Zellweger should give back that Supporting Actress Oscar. In fact, she may have been better cast as Ada, the Charleston preacher's daughter, than Kidman, who looks far too modern and manicured for the Civil War. (Could she at least have let her eyebrows grow in???) Natalie Portman easily gives the finest female performance in the film. As a young Civil War widow, she exhibits all the pain and longing that Kidman lacks. She would have been an exquisite Ada. The always-wonderful Jena Malone has about two seconds as the Ferry Girl. I immediately wished she'd been cast as Ruby. Still, this is quibbling. "Cold Mountain" is a fine film which surpassed my expectations. I'd even say it improves on the book. The cinematography is gorgeous and tremendously evocative. One question: Why can't American actors affect as fine a Southern accent as their British/Irish counterparts??? (It's the training, stupid!!!)

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