Cold Mountain

Theatrical Release Date: 2003 12 25 (USA)

UPC: 031398147633

Studio: Fox Home Ent. (lgf)

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Sexual Situations, War Violence]

Summary: Based on the novel by Charles Frazier, Anthony Minghella's star-studded Cold Mountain is a sweeping tale set in the final days of the American Civil War. Jude Law stars as Inman, a young soldier who, despite an injury, is struggling to make his way home to Cold Mountain, NC, where his beloved Ada (Nicole Kidman) awaits. In Inman's absence, Ada befriends Ruby (Ren?e Zellweger), who helps her keep up her late father's farm. Meanwhile, in his travels, Inman encounters a menagerie of interesting folks. Also starring Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Donald Sutherland, and Philip Seymore Hoffman, Cold Mountain features original music by Jack White of the White Stripes. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Category: War

Awards: Best Picture - Drama – null Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Supporting Actress – null Best Director – null Best Screenplay – null Best Score – null Best Song – null Producer of the Year – Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year – Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year – Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year – Producers Guild of America Best Adapted Screenplay – Writers Guild of America Best Supporting Actress – Screen Actors Guild Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Editing – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Song – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – National Board of Review Best Picture – National Board of Review Best Supporting Actress – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Score – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Cinematography – American Society of Cinematographers Best Song – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Screenplay – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Score – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Director – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Moti – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Features: Audio commentary with Screenwriter/Director Anthony Minghella and Editor Walter Murch
"Climbing Cold Mountain" documentary
The words and music of Cold Mountain - Royce Hall Special
A journey to Cold Mountain
Sacred harp history
Storyboard comparisons

Cold Mountain

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 01/31/2012

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: DHMA null

Runtime: 154 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: Blu-ray region A (North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia)

Dana Rowader

Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain is at once a beautifully shot, contemplative film about the Civil War South, and a messy, uneven narrative that fails to fully engage the viewer. Chief among the film's problems is its unbalanced mix of romance, war drama, road movie, and ensemble film elements. Considering the fact that this film is, at its heart, a romance, it is unfortunate that the leads lack chemistry. Although part of this may be due to the fact that both actors are playing very internalized characters -- Kidman a shy and unsure belle, and Law a thoughtful, yet introverted, man of few words -- they just do not stir up the requisite amount of passion when onscreen together for their love story to be compelling. There is also little foundation for their relationship in the story line since they barely interact with each other before their separation. Attempts to convey Ada's (Kidman) inner thoughts through voice-over readings of her love letters fall into melodrama, and Inman's (Law) repeated gazing at Ada's daguerreotype falls short of conveying more than escapist sentiments amidst his harsh surroundings. In fact, his decision to desert the Confederate Army seems to be grounded more in his own desire to get away from the bloodshed and death than in acquiescence to her call for his return. Thankfully, there is much more to both of their stories than their supposed love for each other. Though Ada and Inman maintain rather aloof personalities, even in their separate stories, they still have a multitude of other characters with which to interact. The film is bursting at the seams with colorful "country folk," disturbing opportunists, and sad souls -- many populated by recognizable character actors and minor stars. From the sinful Southern preacher played by the always-intriguing Philip Seymour Hoffman to the desperate, widowed young mother portrayed with ferocity by Natalie Portman, these characters are the lifeblood of the film. The larger supporting roles are taken by those in Ada's life, including a devastating turn by Kathy Baker as her neighbor and a moving turn by Donald Sutherland as Ada's wise father. Ren?e Zellweger's feisty performance as a down-home girl who helps Ada run her farm, becoming her closest friend in the process, may be considered by some as hamming it up or chewing the scenery; however, her character injects life into the film where it would otherwise have fallen horribly flat. The problem with all of these many performances is that they upstage the two leads. In this barrage of characters, even many cameo performers come across as full-blooded, three-dimensional personalities, while Ada and Inman seem more like blank slates. Helping out the film immensely is its wonderful musical score by Gabriel Yared and its many traditional country and folk tunes. The work of Alison Krauss, Jack White, and many other artists really brings the film to life, giving the Southern characters and environment a sense of authenticity throughout. Yared's score imbues the romance with a subtle, understated warmth that it could not have accomplished on its own and works beautifully with the sweeping, gorgeous cinematography. One should be warned that the film is very gruesome and brutal in parts, truly depicting the savagery of war and the anarchy that overran the South as the Civil War was being lost. This brutality, characterized at first on the actual battlefield, but also in many of the characters' heartless actions, threatens to overwhelm the love story and any hope the film seeks to offer. The movie seems to want its romance to be the unifying element, but the love story ends up feeling more like an ineffectual backdrop most of the time, not strong enough to balance out the disheartening elements of the film. Cold Mountain is really a beautifully crafted movie; it's just a shame that many of its disparate elements could not come together to create a cohesive cinematic experience. ~ Dana Rowader, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Jen Apgar  Actor 
Emily Deschanel  Actor 
Robin Mullins  Actor 
Mark Jeffrey Miller  Actor 
Jay Tavare  Actor 
William Horberg  Producer 
Anthony Minghella  Director 
Anthony Minghella  Screenwriter 
Sydney Pollack  Producer 
Iain Smith  Executive Producer 
Bob Weinstein  Executive Producer 
Harvey Weinstein  Executive Producer 
Gabriel Yared  Composer (Music Score) 
Ron Yerxa  Producer 
Albert Berger  Producer 
Bob Osher  Executive Producer 
Jude Law  Actor 
Nicole Kidman  Actor 
Renée Zellweger  Actor 
Eileen Atkins  Actor 
Brendan Gleeson  Actor 
Philip Seymour Hoffman  Actor 
Natalie Portman  Actor 
Giovanni Ribisi  Actor 
Donald Sutherland  Actor 
Ray Winstone  Actor 
Kathy Baker  Actor 
James Gammon  Actor 
Charlie Hunnam  Actor 
Jack White  Actor 
Ethan Suplee  Actor 
Jena Malone  Actor 
Melora Walters  Actor 
Lucas Black  Actor 
Taryn Manning  Actor 
Tom Aldredge  Actor 
James Rebhorn  Actor 

Country: USA