By: debbie lynn elias
Based on Charles Frazier’s best-selling National Book Award winning Civil War novel of the same name, “Cold Mountain” is the story of a wounded Confederate soldier who struggles to make his way home to his beloved Ada, who herself, has faced an almost insurmountable struggle on Cold Mountain.
Ada Monroe, a somewhat well-to-do Southern urban princess, has recently moved to Cold Mountain, North Carolina at the request of her father, who is dying, to help tend his farm. P.W. Inman is poor, but honest, carpenter, who is smitten with Ada and has been since he first laid eyes on her. Only problem, he gets a bit tongue-tied whenever she is near. Nevertheless, the chemistry between the two gets the better of them, and they embark on a very proper courtship that smolders with unrequited sexual tension, but which is cut short by the Civil War. Commonplace to many towns throughout the Confederacy in 1861, citizens get caught up in war fever when the Confederate States of America declare war on the Union and Cold Mountain is no exception. When Inman is called off to war, thinking (as did so many Southerners) that the whole thing would be over in a matter of only a few months or so, Ada pledges to wait for him. That wait turns into four years.
Shot in the neck during the Battle of Petersburg, Inman almost dies. When he survives, he vows to return to Cold Mountain, war or no war, and soon becomes a deserter. His journey back to Cold Mountain is an epic in and of itself as he tries to avoid capture by both the North and the South, meets up with convicts and criminals not to mention some rather interesting residents, and somehow avoids entanglement with various and sundry women tempting him with their feminine wiles. In the meantime, Ada has had troubles of her own. Her father had died, leaving her penniless but with a farm to manage. Simple tasks to girls with rural upbringing, same are just the opposite for the prim and proper Ada. Thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, Ada soon has some help in the form of the no-nonsense, hard working, hands in the mud, Ruby, under whose tutelage Ada finds herself milking cows and mucking barns with the best of them.
“Cold Mountain” is an intriguing character study of the journeys taken by each of its principals – figuratively by Ada and literally by Inman. Using a background narrative of Ada’s letters to tell the story, the audience is given an added sense of presence, enabling them to further identify with each character and at times, even able to feel part of the story as if sitting in old rocker on an expansive Southern porch gossiping with the girls or crouched under a tree under heavy gunfire penning what could be a last letter to one’s beloved.
Nicole Kidman, still on a high after “Moulin Rouge!” and last year’s Oscar winning performance in “The Hours” brings a genteel restraint to her role as Ada. And although substantive, there is a lack of believability in her transformation from prim and proper lady to farm hand (Scarlett O’Hara she isn’t) which belies the eloquently written character in the novel. As with her performance in “The Human Stain”, again, Kidman never quite fits with the blue collar, slightly dirty roles of a janitor or a farm hand. The “grit” just isn’t there and thanks to John Seale’s photography, no matter what the scene, Kidman always has that ethereal glow. Renee Zellwegger, on the other hand, upstages every scene from everyone with her overly animated, riotous comic antics as taskmaster Ruby. Although she may have lost Oscar last year to Nicole, with Renee’s performance as Ruby, the tables should turn in her favor come February. Jude Law is a standout, giving a courageous, albeit two-dimensional, but finely crafted portrayal of Inman. Law excels here at conveying Inman’s taciturn humbleness without making him seem pathetic or downtrodden. The icing on the cake are well-rounded – and even superlative performances to all but Zellwegger – from the supporting cast from everyone from Kathy Baker and Natalie Portman to Ethan Suplee, Melora Walters and Lucas Black.
Shot in Transylvania, director Anthony Minghella does a remarkable job of pulling the film together. Capitalizing on the rugged terrain and climate of the region, he also calls on much of his former team from “The English Patient” – cinematographer John Seale (whose work is always exquisite), editor Walter Murch and musical director Gabriel Yared who wrote the score – to create this exciting blend of war and romance, from a breathtaking recreation of the Battle of Petersburg to the bittersweet reunion of Ada and Inman. Especially riveting is the hand-to-hand combat photography in the opening sequence. Production designer Dante Ferretti is true to the period however costume designer Ann Roth falls a bit short in considering authenticity and period when dressing Kidman. Let’s face it, this isn’t Tara, there are no drapes and designer couture is not to be had by a farm girl on Cold Mountain.
A major flaw, however, is the lack of continuity that is found in the book. Written by Minghella, while the narrative technique in the film works in telling the story, it nevertheless causes the film to lose its flow, giving rise to a feeling that one is watching television, with episodes used for the introduction of characters. Let’s face it – without the supporting characters, “Cold Mountain” would be a run-of-the-mill romance novel. And disappointingly, many of the supporting characters are cut short in their performances because of the vignette format.
While the book envelops the reader with every page, the film does not. “Cold Mountain” is a prime example where some of the parts are better than the whole. While there are great performances from the likes of Zellwegger, Baker and Portman, and top of the line production values from Seale, Murch and Ferretti, the film as a whole is forgettable. Like any television series, you may not remember the entire season or the entire series run, but you may recall certain episodes that standout in your mind. And while you may not remember “Cold Mountain”, in years to come (or months), certain things will stick out as memorable – an ethereal and beauteous Nicole Kidman, a horrific battle sequence, a love torn apart by war and hopefully, Renee Zellwegger clutching Oscar gold.
Ada Monroe: Nicole Kidman P.W. Inman: Jude Law Ruby Thewes: Renee Zellwegger Sally Swanger: Kathy Baker Reverend Monroe: Donald Sutherland Sara: Natalie Potman
Written and directed by Anthony Minghella. Based on the book by Charles Frazier. A Miramax Pictures release. Rated R. (155 min)
