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The closing days of the Civil War were not a good time for Confederate soldiers. If they were paid it was in worthless money. They generally had no food or transportation home (most often not even a poor-condition horse), had no shelter other than what they could find or make themselves, and little hope that things would be much better when (or if) they got home. Conditions for the people back home were pretty bleak too. With most of the men off to war, women were trying hard to take care of themselves, often with little or no experience in how to grow crops, care for their animals, or use and repair the equipment and tools needed. Many of the men who stayed behind took greedy (and often lusty) advantage of the situation. This is the setting for Cold Mountain.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This version leaves much to be desired. The story bounced around like a superball in a small room. The video was "hazy" from beginning and the sound track was very poor. Sorry folks...this flick might have won an award, but it must have been a down year for movies....I can't recommend this one.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), Inman (Jude Law), and Ruby Tuewes (Renee Zellweger) are the principal characters of this epic story in the little mountain village of Cold Mountain, North Carolina during the Civil War. Ada has just moved to Cold Mountain from Charleston with her preacher father (Donald Sutherland). Inman is one of several workers on his new church. There is an almost immediate attraction between Ada and Inman. But then the war breaks out, and every grown man must enlist and go. The story revolves about Inman's impossible attempt to return to his newfound love, Ada. He endures so many tragedies including: (a)the battle of Pittsburg where he barely escapes and deserts the Confederate army. (b)a preacher (Philip Seymour Hoffman)who was attempting to kill his black, pregnant mistress (c)Southern bounty hunters who are pursuing deserters and lock him up with others in a chain gang. (d) an old woman who has nothing to live on and finally kills her last goat right on the screen for us to see (e) a young widow (Natalie Portman) with a baby who befriends him but then is raped by passing Yankee soldiers. Meanwhile, Ada, who has never done anything that a lady would not do, is confronted with running a farm with practically no food and no help. Enter Ruby Tuewes, who has the ability to completely run a farm. The two are a team and together make it with lots of blood, sweat, and tears during the war years. But there are interruptions by scalawags that would like to marry Ada and then Ruby's father returns out of the blue--a deserter that gets them in trouble because they have protected him. The movie ends on a bittersweet note but with hope for the future, as most war movies do. And Inman does make it back eventually. Renee Zellweger is the real star of the movie. She played the tomboy Ruby to the hilt and won Best Supporting Actress of 2003. Once she enters the story, she takes over in a character that she has never played before. She is totally into this role, and I was very impressed by her performance. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law were both nominated for the main acting awards but did not win. They were remarkable in their roles as well. The movie also was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Scoring. Two songs from the movie were nominated--"Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love", but neither won. An extra disk of special features is included with this DVD, and if you are interested in mountain music, it explains how it came to be and thrives today.Read full review
This film was very well done, well written, we'll cast and acted. Probably an accurate portrayal of life during the Civil was in the U.S. It was depressing though. Natalie Portman's part in it was very short and sad. The whole story is sad, there's nothing uplifting about it. I don't recommend it as a feel good movie, it is such a downer. The civil war was such a horrible, terrible time. If you want to get a feeling of what that was like, then this film is for you.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Another epic movie to own. 2 disc set. Edge of your seat story line. Will be one I watch more than twice. One of the original Renee Zellwigger's best works.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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