I saw it last night, and came away with mixed feelings. The real problem (not solved by the film) is the structural flaw in the book (which I won't discuss for those who haven't seen the film or read the book). But it is a truly beautiful film, and well worth seeing, very powerful, the nearly three hours just zipped by. The music was strangely not present, I don't know quite why, even with the fiddle and banjo around. It is certainly not going to spark some great revival (that is already underway anyway).

It is certainly a strange problem that the hills of Carolina appear to be inhabited by beautiful film stars -- like Natalie Portman. The film would have been much better if everyone was a little plainer (Nicole Kidman becomes absurdly radiant as the film continues. In the final winter scenes, one expects the snow to melt around her). Some of the scenes are beautifully done -- again, well worth seeing, plunging in.

yours,

Peter T.