Cold Mountain (the movie)

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 12:43 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 12:50 PM

Two great reviews. It sounds as I expected. Peter, what was your opinion of Renee Zellwigers performance? How about Law's?

I hope to see it this weekend.

Mick

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Kim C
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 01:04 PM

Last of the Mohicans was filmed in North Carolina. The only reason Cold Mountain wasn't filmed there was MONEY. It's cheaper to go to Romania. How thoughtful of them to support the American film industry.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: John Hardly
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 01:26 PM

"The real problem (not solved by the film) is the structural flaw in the book..."

now I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what this could be.

So my doubts re Kidman seem to have been well-founded. I'm hoping to see the movie this weekend. I'm still anxious despite my misgivings about the casting.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 01:49 PM

I think the best thing about the film is that it is a really big old Hollywood film -- everyone throws themselves into it. But that is also its problem (if that is a problem). I thought that RZ's performance was way over the top (lots of cheap laughs), but it worked occasionally, she became charming. Jude Law was excellent. The real problem, as mentioned, is that they were so beautiful, you found it hard to believe any hardship had ever marked them, or ever really could. It is a change, of course, in sentiment: I can't imagine people in 1940 were troubled by how beautiful Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh were. That was how film stars and films were. If you don't mind that, then you will love the film.

I haven't underscored how much I enjoyed it, I would recommend it highly. There are many fine moments, things done with great care. It just isn't quite as "great" as it seems to want to be. I think if it were grittier, it would have caught my heart.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 12:04 AM

Wow.

Took forever to get back to my head, then get home, driving down the highway stoned from the violence, the emotion, the scary thought that it probably was AT LEAST as bad in real life.

We have no idea what it's like to be truly cold, or hungry, or really really scared. What little sap there was, what little distraction of lovely scenery, were eaten up by the sheer spectrum of suffering.

Good thing we couldn't move for a long time: we caught Riley's name at the end! Go Riley! Why did they put everyone in reverse alphabetical order ; )

Dani

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: toadfrog
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 01:55 AM

It was a fine film. I was more impressed by the film than the book, actually. They could have improved the casting, but that's true of almost every Civil War film I've ever seen. Actually, it speaks well of the music that it does not jump out at you. It shouldn't; the film was not about the music. I heard T-Bone on the radio, twice, explaining that the music is actually rock, and that he did not want to make "another folk music film." Which is o.k., they had serious professionals writing the tunes.

One thing, though. Whose idea was it to name an "Appalachian" tune, My Ain True Love? As if it were about Scotland? And why?

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 10:34 AM

Saw it last night, and enjoyed it hugely. A couple comments:

I am a great admirer of Renee Zellweger. In this movie, however, I found her characterization to be, as someone above said, over the top, and I'd say a little artificial.

I went into the theater prepared to be underwhelmed by Nicole Kidman. I was pleased to be surprised. First rate, in my view. Yes, there were times in the latter part of the picture where she was too perfect, visually, but that's the director and makeup man's fault, not hers.

I also went prepared to be offended by the huge battle additions that weren't in the book. Afterwards, though, I realized that in the novel the nature of the war had been handled through his recollections, which couldn't be done that way in a film, and it was really necessary to establish what he was coming home from in order to understand him.

The sex scene was unnecessary in a storytelling sense, or at least could have been story-established with a lot less time and detail. But I guess in this day and age Hollywood thinks that if you can show it, you have to show it.

I absolutely cannot imagine what is meant by calling the music--any of it--rock and roll. I've heard T-Bone's comments on that, but it makes no sense whatever. I think his saying that was an attempt to get over what he may have perceived as a disinclination of younger viewers to see a movie with what he might have characterized as old-fashioned music.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 11:20 AM

Haven't seen the film yet - might go tomorrow; it's on in Dublin somewhere. But it's struck me in several recent films that people appear too beautiful, and I've been puzzled - until I realised that it wasn't the beauty of the individuals, so much as the fact that they were among a totally *young* group.

It appears that there are no aged people and few ordinary scruffy children in films any more. There's just a Midwich-Cuckoos-like or Stepford-Wives-like population of twentysomething and thirtysomething beauties. Eerie.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 12:31 PM

Guest Dani says, "We have no idea what it's like to be truly cold, or hungry, or really really scared."

Bullshit!!! You are insulting a lot of people who were on the front lines in ANY war - and that includes a lot of catters.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 02:23 PM

I HATED the book. Way too many lucky coincidences (Ruby, the goat woman) and improbabilities, and I thought the ending was unpardonably melodramatic and self-righteous.

I agree; I'd rather have seen Cate Blanchett, or somebody whose demeanor is less pert than Nicole Kidman's, as Ada. I'm not saying she isn't a fine actress, I'm only saying that I cannot reconcile what I've seen of her with my impression of the character in the book.

Unfortunately, the first film I ever saw of Jude Law's was _Wilde_ and I've never been able to get over my first impression of him as a prissy, petulant, b*tch. I can't see him looking haggard enough for a post-Civil War movie.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Peter T.
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 02:27 PM

Actually, I thought the sex scene worked surprisingly well: not so much the sex part (usual ridiculous shots of bits of people's bodies), but the before and after parts. It was the one part of the movie that I completely believed in, it was all done with great something, finesse, manners, hesitancy, the actors finally inhabiting their vulnerability. This in contrast to the book, where it is a failure of the imagination.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Dani
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 03:11 PM

Please, Guest, forgive my gross over-generalization. You are right, of course. I meant present-day Americans as a GROUP.

And I guess I was thinking more of the ordeal of the folks in the movie who WEREN'T on the front lines. We see and read how soldiers suffer, if we're paying attention, in wars of any era. I was facing for the first time the very real suffering in the outer ripples of the war.

We are, as a group, a very comfy people. Even in poverty, we can expect to have running water, most of us, and a food bank or soup kitchen somewhere if the food runs out, and shelter of SOME kind at the end of a day, and the expectation that enemy soldiers are in someone else's backyard, not our own.

I don't know what my point was: simply noticing.

Now, when Sue vG gets back, will she please post about the story about the song from the movie that she knew all the verses of? It's a great story, and I want to know where in the movie it was.

Dani

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 05:11 PM

Dani:

I just reread your first and second posts. You are right! I overreacted to the first one and I should not have. Yes, there are some unpleasant memories I cannot erase after all these years, but they have nothing to do with you, and I am very sorry I sounded so angry. Please forgive me!

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: plum
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 06:49 PM

i'm just going to see jack white. and shouldn't meg be in as well?

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Dani
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 08:09 PM

Well, OK Guest! Peace at least between us.

Now, have you seen the movie? And, as I presume you are a veteran, I'm interested to know what you thought of it. And I know there are other Mudcat war veterans out there. What did you think?

I think it said in a very powerful way that there has GOT to be a better way to settle differences between people and peoples.

Dani

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 09:12 AM

Dani, while I understand your reaction, I don't think either the book or the movie say that.

The message from the book AND the movie is about people's resilience, their ability to roll with the punch and live through the terrible things that sometimes happen.

Now, what a thoughtful viewer may make of the terrible circumstances shown is another matter, but I don't see either the book or the movie as setting out to teach that "there's got to be a better way" or any other political message.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 09:53 AM

saw the film on New Years Eve and was quite disappointed. I thought it a pretty lousy movie and would not recommend it to anyone. Though mostly faithful to the story of the book, it had none of it's spirit. Even though it is not a Great book, it's decent, and full of references to old Irish and Celtic legend and the like, which is lost inthe film. Renee Zelwieger is a bit over the top in her portrayal, as has been said. Kidman and Law are just Kidman and Law, just as you can't see her preacher father and not say 'That's Donald Sutherland!' the movie would have been helped by casting less well known actors, in my opinion, but it would also have had to have been written and directed a lot better. There is no growth or change or development in any of the characters in the film. they are the same from begining to end. even Sally, whose husband and sons are killed before her eyes and is tortured and left for dead, she has the same goofy smile in every scene from the first time we see her to the last. not changed at all by her experience. and it's as if nothing's changed by the war in the whole area of Cold Mountain. just a little inconvenience to get through. I thought the actor who played the 'albino' home guard killer was all wrong. in the book he is a child, maybe 10 or so. in the movie he is old enough to be in the war. why isn't he at the front? he's at least in his late teens early 20s from the look of him. should have been a much younger actor. The woman who plays the Goat Woman was good, just right for the part, but none of her instruction and teaching of Inman is in the film. she just nurses him a little and sends him on his way. Jack White doesn't play a gourd banjo in the film, he plays a bowl back mandolin, which I don't think were that common in the 1860s. the music wasn't very prominent in the film, almost not there at all. and at least in one case a bit anachronistic, I think, Ruby's father in the film at one point is singing 'sittin on top of the world' which I think was written in the 1920s by the Mississippi Sheiks. there is not enough music in the film to warrant going to see it for the music. better off with the cd, but even that is not that great, who needs an Elvis Costello song?
I like Elvis Costello's music, but it doesn't add anything to this project except his name. and the sex scene as mentioned above is not worth the admission price and not really necessary. when you first see inman sleeping naked after they just come in the door you think, that's faster than in the old movies of the fifties, not even a fade out, then comes the flashback with all the naughty bits!. How artistic! hace to give this one a C-. not the worst film of the year, but not worth the time it takes to watch it.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Peter T.
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 09:56 AM

I think the message of the movie is that if you are beautiful, people will do many, many things for you; and you will find other like-faced people of your own aesthetic class.

And this is true.

yours,

Peter T.

(just joking)

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 10:51 AM

Dani:

Thanks for your compassion!

Haven't seen the movie yet, and from the sound of things, I'm not sure I will. I don't go to war movies of any kind any more. I did a couple times way back when, and was disgusted by them glorifying war and making it look glamorous. Yes, I am a veteran, and never saw anything about war that was anything but senseless. I am in my seventies now, and what I'd like to see is a rule that those people who declare a war must lead the troops into battle.

I will buy the CD, though!

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:19 PM

GUEST, I sure wouldn't say that THIS movie glorified or made war look glorious!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:27 PM

People are always wanting to do many many things for me. I hang out with other beautiful people.

Except here.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 08:45 PM

Saw the movie tonight.

Let me begin with my impression of the book, as it gives the context for the comments about the movie. I have never thought this book is headed for classic status. What it is is a damn good yarn set in front of an amazing geographical and historical backdrop. While it has its problems in its basic construction, I was pretty amazed that the author was able to have pretty good continuity in the character developement and story line, given that there were so many. Also given that this was his first novel. Each of the major and minor characters had a fairly complicated setup, and with a few glitches, he managed to carry it off. As I said, it was just a damn good yarn set against a very interesting time, and in this beautiful place.

I thought the movie captured the times and the places very well. I would certainly rather have had it filmed in the Carolina's. But they did manage to find a place that gave appropriate homage to the settings of the novel. I did not find the war settings overly graphic. In fact, I would have preferred that they were more graphic. But this comes from my life experience. It would be fine with me if people retched during the scenes of war and its aftermath. I want people to see that there is no valiant death. I have seen it first hand and I must tell you that people never die heroically. It is ugly, nasty, heartwrenching and life changing to witness. Enough of the editorial. I thought the scenes were realistic and that is fine.

I thought that Kidman did a fine job as Ada. I thought she captured the character as it was intended. I did not think she was "too attractive" for the role. That implies that women from the mid 19th century couldn't be that attractive. In fact, Ada was a southern woman of her times and Kidman caught her visually as well as her foibles and strengths. The only failing in her role had nothing to do with her characterization. As has been implied, it was a problem with makeup and wardrobe in the reuniting segments.

I wonder if those who thought Zellwigger was over the top have read the book recently? The character is over the top. She is the product of a very troubling childhood. It causes her to hide her vulnerabilities with over the top actions and manners. I thought she captured that well, as well as the underlying little girl. I loved this character in the book, and I enjoyed Renee's rendition of her greatly. One of the problems with this movie is that beyond Inman and Ada, they didn't do enough developement of the reasons for the personalities. This showed with Ruby, and especially with her Da, Georgia, and the banjo player. I remember watching during the execution scene on the mountain, looking around and realizing that many of these folks didn't even realize what an interesting character the banjo player was.

I agree with Peter. It is a beautiful movie. It has its problems, but I will buy it when it comes out on DVD. But anyone that thinks they will wait for that is going to miss out. This one needs to be seen on the big screen.

One more thing. The producer should be thoroughly chastised for not bringing the music more into the production. It was wonderful, but it deserved the type of role that it had in the book. But to do that, they would have had to do more with the secondary characters. And they should have.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: toadfrog
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 06:45 PM

Well, Big Mick, that's a very well-considered statement, and I agree with almost everything you said, especially about Ruby. She was necessary to the story and quite persuasive. I don't think "over the top," because I've known people like that, and suspect there were a lot more of them in the old backwoods.

Only, I'm not sure what you mean about the "role" music had in the book. All I recall about music in the book was that Ada's old man, an old reprobate, suddenly and inexplicably reformed himself by discovering he was a musical genius and became a fine fellow. I've never seen that happen in life. That seemed to me a pretty artificial plot device, but I forgave the author. The film has a couple of scenes with brilliant fiddle playing. It seems to me that gave justice to the musical aspect of the book.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 07:26 PM

OK, toadfrog, fair enough. But I recall that the old man went through quite a transformation as his musical interest progressed. I recall his "dead man tuning". The music was central enough to the character developement that Tim O'Brien along with two others did a CD called Music From the Mountain which was based on the songs of the novel. I guess what I am saying is that the music wasn't invisible in the movie, but it surely didn't play the role it played in the book. But I think that goes along with the fact that they couldn't or just didn't develop the secondary characters very well. But all things considered, I feel they did a credible job. And the old man did allude to the things we are discussing.

Fair observation. Got me thinking.

Mick

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,bluebeard
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 08:04 PM

I saw the movie two nights ago. I loved the book,( although the ending blew me away.)I also loved the movie. True, the secondary characters were not developed but how could they in two and a half hours. I am hoping the DVD has the 4 hour version, which may spend more time on the musical aspect.
The battle scene was superb (and horrible...as war is.) They got it right with the North Carolina buttons too.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: 8_Pints
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 08:53 PM

Hi everyone.

We saw the movie in North Carolina before we came home and both thought it was a very powerful film. Neither of us have read the book, but I guess we might now. Agree with lots of the comments above - I found the violent scenes very disturbing and watched through my hands, but it never felt like gratuitous violence, it was necessary to show the horror to put the film into context.

Loved the music, although would have liked it to have been given more prominence. We do feel though that it made lots of the scenes even more powerful.

Dani, the song that Riley sang when he was over in the UK was "I wish, I wish" He said that only one verse had been collected in the Appalachians and the two other verses had been added for the film. This is a verse from a song I sing that has been collected in the UK in many versions. My particular song is called "A brisk young sailor courted me" but it is also known as "I wish, I wish". I sang the song at the club Riley performed at and he was really interested to hear the complete song. My variant was collected by Ann Gilchrist from a 70 year old carpenter called Mr James Bayliff, probably from Cumbria (The Lake District, England). I learned it from an old vinyl record by Paul and Linda Adams called "Far over the fell" (Songs and ballads of Cumbria) SFA 027 recorded in 1975.

The tune differs from the film one but as the words are the same, the rhythm is pretty similar. If you are interested, I will post the other verses, just let me know.

Love, Sue vG

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Dani
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 09:18 PM

Please do, Sue! It's a wonderful story about how music travels.

Dani

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:36 AM

Is it close to the version collected by Percy Grainger? I have posted it in the thread "I Wish, I Wish," 18360; the original website has a very good midi: I Wish I Wish
Seemingly part of the widespread 'Butcher Boy' group, but the verses about the apron string may have floated.

I haven't seen the film yet, so I may have the wrong tune.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 05:36 AM

Saw it on Tuesday. Pretty good movie I'd say, but I haven't read the book. And pretty good music too, although its presence in the film was rather muted. There were some very moving scenes, and I think all the principle actors suited their parts just fine, Nicole Kidman included. (I suspect there were a fair number of southern belles that were every bit as good looking as she is.) I thought the scene with the young woman and her baby at the isolated cabin was just heart-wrenching when she asked Inman to sleep beside her (and nothing more than that). Among anti-war films this is one of the best. Who could feel enthusiastic about launching a war after seeing such a movie? Not many.

- LH

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Peter T.
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 08:36 AM

It sure sounded to me like a "Butcher Boy" song.

One of the nice things for me about the movie was that whenever people did break into song I was able to connect with it because of all the things I had learned here on Mudcat. What I missed was having Rick Fielding tell me about all the wrong things they had done with the musical instruments! (he won't go and see movies at regular theatres)



yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:21 PM

I tried to read the music credits at the end of the film, but only caught some on the left side of the screen

Probably by the end of the year the film will be on video and/or DVD; I don't have the machines but someone will be able to study the credits.

Did I read rightly that Brendan Gleeson himself played the fiddle on at least one track|?

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:03 PM

8_pints, I would like to see the lyrics posted as well.
Looking at the list of tracks on the cd of the soundtrack, "I Wish, I Wish" or any of the alternate titles I know it by aren't there. Riley Baugus sings The Cuckoo and joins on "I Wish My Baby Was Born," but the clip seems to be a different tune and the few words on the clip are unfamiliar.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:16 PM

I answered my own question by doing a web search for +"Brendan Gleeson" +fiddle

Of course some of the items I found simply describe Gleeson's part in the film, but yes, the man can play and he got his agent to tell director Minghella that he has this talent as well as being an accomplished actor!

Minghella sent Irish actor Gleeson to study old-time music with T-Bone Burnett. " 'It was wonderful meeting these musicians and hanging out with them,' [Gleeson] said. 'I've been interested in this music for 10 years. I'd listened to a lot of tapes, but I'd never heard it live before.' " (article by Jeff Strickler at http://www.startribune.com/stories/411/4273998.html)

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:26 PM

from http://abqjournal.com/venue/personalities/126081person12-26-03.htm :

"Because his musical skills were limited, most of the music heard in the film was actually performed by a professional fiddler named Stuart Duncan and a vocalist named Tim Erickson and dubbed in over his performance.
    "We recorded the tracks in Nashville before filming," Gleeson says. "They mixed me in a bit, but most of what you hear is Stuart and Tim."

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 04:25 PM

My wife brought home the CD soundtrack from the movie last night.

After listening to about 1/2 of it, I couldn't stand it any longer.

Outside of Allison Krause, some of the worst singing I have heard in a while. Quite irritating. What a let down.

I would much rather hear traditional music performed by people who can carry a tune, or rather not at all.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Arkie
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 05:41 PM

When I read Cold Mountain several years back I was discussing it with a friend who grew up near Cold Mountain in North Carolina. He commented that a relative of his had been in school with Charles Frazier. Frazier had grown up in that area and hoped to capture something of a lifestyle that he had witness disappear within his lifetime. Supposedly Frazier's inspiration for the book came from family tales of a relative named Inman who decided to come home from the war. Some of you may be interested in what Frazier had to say about his novel. You can find his comments here:
Cold Mountain

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: 8_Pints
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 05:37 AM

Sue vG, not 8_Pints, but I can't be bothered to change the cookie every time I want to post from our shared computer!

The version of the song I sing:

A brisk young sailor courted me
He robbed me of my liberty
He stole it with a free good will
But I must confess, I love him still

There is an alehouse in the town
Where my love goes and sits him down
He takes a strange girl all on his knee
Now isn't that a slight to me

A slight to me and I'll tell you why
Because she has more gold than I
But her gold will waste and her beauty pass
And he'll come to a poor girl like me at last

When I carried my apron low
My true love followed through frost and snow
But now my apron is to my chin
He passes me by and says nothing

There is a lad on yonder hill
Who has a heart as hard as steel
He has two hearts instead of one
And he'll still have mine when I am gone

I wish my baby it was born
And smiling on it's daddy's knee
And I myself was in my grave
With the long green grass growing over me

I wish, I wish but it's all in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid again I never will be
Til apples grow on the orange tree

There are obviously several floating verses that crop up in lots of songs but I think these fit together pretty well. (It is known that old ballad singers would mix and match verses from various songs - it seems to me that it is a bit like using Lego bricks - build yourself a ballad!)
It is the "I wish my baby it was born" verse that was used in Cold Mountain. Riley did say that the other two verses had been written to extend the song for the film.

What do you think?

Sue vG

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: 8_Pints
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 06:10 AM

Sue vG again!

I've just come to the thread on "I wish, I wish" lower down the page.
There are lots more versions of this song there - all subtley different but clearly the same song.

Sue vG

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: 8_Pints
Date: 11 Jan 04 - 08:38 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: 8_Pints
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 01:20 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 05:11 AM

have now seen the film twice-exceptional in all respects. I have never been a N Kidman fan but I can't imagine anyone else in the role of Ada and the music was phenomenal. The only irritation was Ray Winstone, who is a wonderful British actor but who I think struggled with the accent. Definitely going to get the cd and the DVD and if they throw Jude Law in as well I will be a happy woman!

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 05:47 AM

Went to see the film the other day, and found it shallow. Good music, but!

One thing interested me: the 'sacred harp' music in the church; the beginning of the hymn was so like the traditional psalm singing in the Scottish islands.

Once it got going it wasn't similar, mind.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: BanjoRay
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 07:13 AM

I saw it two days ago. I thought it was superb- a very good rendition of the book. One surprise in it for me was the tune "Ruby With The Eyes That Sparkle" which "Stobrod" said he wrote. I've been playing it for years as "Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Further Into The Fire". I suppose its real title in the credits would have upset animal lovers.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 02:30 PM

Unless it's an in-joke - the cynical old Da playing this song he supposedly composed, cozening his poor daughter with the idea that it's Ruby With the Eyes that Sparkle, when in fact it's Shove the Pig's Foot. Male chauvinist pig's foot, even!

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: SmilingMusician
Date: 24 Jan 04 - 10:25 PM

Saw the movie today... bought the sound track an hour later. Both superb! I wish there had been more Sacred Harp singing... brings tears to my eyes every time.

Regarding Guest Martin Gibson's comment above -

"My wife brought home the CD soundtrack from the movie last night.
After listening to about 1/2 of it, I couldn't stand it any longer.
Outside of Allison Krause, some of the worst singing I have heard in a while. Quite irritating. What a let down.
I would much rather hear traditional music performed by people who can carry a tune, or rather not at all."

Mr. Martin, you obviously haven't seen the film. If you had, you'd know that the songs performed in the context of the film were not done by polished professionals. If they had sounded more professoinal, you'd have more negative comments similar to the ones about Nicole Kidman being too beautiful for her role. The music in the film was done by ordninary characters that seemed to live their parts very realistically. It was EXCELLENT, as was the whole project.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Teresa
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 01:28 AM

Well, despite the mixed reviews, I'll watch the movie, and I'll most definitely buy the sound-track. I want to hear the music.

I can always count on good old 'catters to lead me on an adventure. I went searching for Cold Mountain and found the thread on Shape Note or Sacred Harp Music which I've been interested in for a long time.

Thank you, 'catters! ;)
Teresa

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Folkie
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:13 AM

I went to see the film on Saturday having read the book a couple of years ago and thought it was excellent. The music fitted the context and the fiddle playing was superb

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: Burke
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 07:01 PM

SmilingMusician,
Instead of going into a studio for recording, @50 Sacred Harp singers were invited to a singing at Liberty Church in Alabama. They sang for a couple of hours in just as they would at an all day singing & it was all recorded. Just the 2 on the soundtrack were used in the movie. The word in FASOLA circles is that there will be a CD released from the rest of the tunes recorded.

Teresa, I clicked your name & see you're in San Francisco Bay area. I hope you've found the Sacred Harp Singers there. I don't know of any in LasVegas.

Subject: RE: Cold Mountain
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 09:36 PM

It's been almost a month since I saw the film, and at least a week or two since I last read this thread. I've been thinking about my reponse off and on, and now I guess it's about time I chipped in my two-cents.

I read the book when it became available at the public library (i.e., well after it had become a best-seller), and did not particularly enjoy it. The various horrendous events were just *so* overwhelming that I felt that, as a reader, I was being manipulated. That melodramatic quality, coupled with the romantic aspect of the story, made me regard the whole enterprise as a bit of a soap opera -- "Bridges of Madison County" for history buffs. I suppose I just couldn't manage the necessary suspension of disbelief that any work of art requires.

To me, the movie worked better than the book because both the horrible battle scenes and the lyrical/sentimental scenes were right up in my face. I had less choice about whether I wanted to take them seriously -- I had to go along with the author's (and the director's) intentions.

I liked the music well enough, although I expected more (or more prominent) music. I was most impressed by the "Sacred Harp" hymn singing -- I have heard *about* this particular genre for years, but never actually heard the singing. As far as I'm concerned, it was great, a real revelation. Anyone who criticizes it because they've heard better . . . well, I envy you for what you've been able to listen to.

I think the criticism that Nicole was/is "too beautiful" for the part is ridiculous.

First of all, does anyone seiously believe that humans are better-looking today than a mere century-and-a-half ago? There may have been a lot of cultural and technological changes in the intervening years, but there can hardly have been any significant physical evolution of the human race. Some of us are better looking than others, of course, both now and then -- and of course fashions have changed -- but any face anyone can possibly have been born with in 1950 or 1960 could as easily have appeared on a person born in 1800 or 1500 or 20 BC or whenever.

Also: Her character was a privileged young white woman from the city of Charleston. She never had to do a lick of work, put her hands into hot dishwater, or even venture into the sun without a parasol. They had slaves to do everything for them. *Nobody* in the world today is as pampered as were girls like her, so it is historically correct for her to appear absolutely ethereal, especially when she first appears.

As the film progresses, Ada undergoes some hardships and also becomes more competant at taking care of business for herself, and I think Kidman (along with her makeup people, etc.) does a brilliant job of portraying the changes. She really exudes a different kind of beauty at the end of the film than in the beginning, radiating a healthier and more self-confident aura than the pale porcelain doll we see at first.

One last observation: I read in my American history books about "the carpetbaggers and the scalawags," but I never really understood the scalawag phenomenon a well as I do now, after seeing the "Home Guard" villains as portrayed in this film. (I suppose I *should* have gotten it from the book, but as mentioned above, I had problems getting myself fully involved in the book.)

Hmmm -- guys who avoid the risk and dirty work of actually serving as soldiers, but who make damn sure that other poor suckers do their duty while at the same time profiteering and living off the suffering of their fellow citizens. I suppose there's nothing new under the sun, and politicians taday aren't really doing anything that hasn't been done before.