, is convincing because of the movie's attention to detail and the plot's realism.
The love portion of the story works, oddly enough, because of how little love there actually is. Inman and Ada, who had just taken the first timid steps towards courtship, are separated by the war for most of the movie. True love is a state of mind and a powerful antidote to what ails you. For Inman and Ada the idea of love, as opposed to its consummation, is the fuel that feeds their hungry, discouraged souls. For the audience this old-fashioned romanticism, which you will find yourself hoping conquers all, makes the trials and tribulations of these characters more compelling.
Cold Mountain comes close, on a few occasions, to undermining its own intensity and sensibility. The movie would have been that much better if a few of the numerous obstacles faced by Inman and Ada had been left out. The subplot involving Ruby (Zellweger) and her Father (Gleeson) left me somewhat cold though it did provide some humour to lighten the overall mood of the film. The sheer number and nature of Inman's chance encounters, beyond lengthening the movie, smack of the script trying a little too hard to impress. The train never completely goes off the rails but ridicule is lurking in the shadows. The same scenes in lesser films would have been fatal.
Cold Mountain does manage to bring the horrors of war home, for the most part, in an understated but undeniable manner. As time passes major and minor events, and wars in particular, often become glorified in unseemly and unwarranted ways. Cold Mountain reminds us that, justified or not, war rarely brings the best out of people and the few instances of pride come at great cost.
The acting, in Cold Mountain, is generally very good. With the exception of Jude Law, however, all concerned have given better performances in other films. In this instance it's the story that make the performances as opposed to the other way around.
Cold Mountain is a compelling romance and a vivid reminder that war is hell.
Check out my WORST MOVIES OF 2003 list.
ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS:
Roger Ebert's Review
Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Cold Mountain Official Web Site
