Review of Cold Mountain (2003) by Steven F — 10 Jan 2011

I always like to measure these overlong, melodramatic, sprawling period pieces to 2007's Atonement. The difference between most films that fall under such categories and Joe Wright's masterpiece is the pacing.

When Atonement breezes along in its two hours, cramming only the most important plotlines, the others lumber on with several tangents and deviations, and long scenes of uninteresting dialogue. Cold Mountain is no exception, though it features fine acting from Jude Law and the lovely Nicole Kidman that moves some of these scenes along with some emotional inertia.

Nevertheless, it's too long, and it tosses the viewer from one emotion to the next in quick, jarring succession. The fun was over after maybe half an hour, but that doesn't mean it was a poorly made or poorly performed film.

Just one with major issues.