WHY I LOVE THE MOVIE - Cold Mountain 1
I find Cold Mountain so appealing on so many levels I will break them down into catagories to try to cover as many areas of interest as possible.
Favorite scenes will be indicated by F#. Not necessarily in order.
HISTORIC
Taking place in the time period of the Pre Civil War thru the near end of the war, it provides a historical value which I Love as well as a look into the customs, dress, technical advances, or lack of them, transportation, communication etc of the time. I Love stepping back in time and feeling how it was like to live then. It also presents a point of view of the Civil War from the perspective of the people left back at home while their menfolk go off to war, a view not often done.
Music
The sound track for this movie features melody from the time period and location, again rare to me, but I find it compelling and interesting. Two of the songs were nominated for Academy Awards, 4 & 8, one of which Sting performs with Alison Krauss. I really surprised myself by enjoying the Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church in I'm Going Home, I've learned the words and sing it in the car when I get sleepy while driving, and I love the scene in the movie hearing Ada and Inman sing it. Music really enhances the time and place. Also, Like a Songbird that has fallen, is great for walking on the treadmill. But, my favorites are, 15 & 16 Anthem & Ada Plays. They are so sad and beautiful and calming and take me visually right back to the great scenes in the movies in which the music is featured. It gives me great peace listening to them over and over. I Love where she playes the piano for Inman while riding on the wagon. F1 This music is also played when Inman is resting with the Goat Lady, during which he tells her about Ada and how she is the place that is home for him. F2 Here is the scene in which Inman talks about the Bartrum, reading about the names of places near home, and when he says, "How could a name break your heart, It's her, she's the place I'm headin' and I hardly know her."
Characters
I Love the contrast and interaction between Ada Monroe and Ruby Thewes, she doesn't appear until 1/3 into the movie. Ada was raised as a southern lady, and is book educated, always reading, but helpless in basic skills and surviving on her own, and Ruby was educated by the school of hard knocks, who has abundant skills to take care of herself, but also has a warm heart, moral values, and a sense of what is right. Team these 2 together and watch out! I Love watching them learn from each other, F3, particularly when Rudy take Ada on a walk thru the grounds making plans for the farm, listing the things to get started working on.
Inman
Inman is a puzzle for Ada. I don't think she has known someone like him before and she is intrigued by him. Mystery is always good in a relationship. Jude Law delights me frequently in this movie by wordlessly expressing himself with facial expressions. Harrison Ford and Johnny Depp do this often also. I find it a trait of an excellent actor. For example, the scene with the Dove in the Church. Not much is said, but they watch each other and you can tell what they are feeling just by watching their faces. F4 Another is at the end when he finally reaches Ada, but she doesn't recognise him and she tells him to leave, as he turns, his face and whole body language express his crushed feelings and realization of his worst fears, that all he has been holding on to during his whole journey has come true, he thinks Ada won't want him, that he is damaged beyond repair. That most painful moment expressed without words.F5
Goat Lady
Here is a woman a world unto herself. She lives alone, survives by her own means, and is comfortable in surroundings of her own making. I Love her practicality, her effeciency, her wisdom, and ability to listen. All chaos may go on in the world around her, but she is not part of it, she lives in a world of her own creation. During this scene, there is a reference to an expression I have heard before in my reading. It must be an old expression, but this is another thing I Love about the book from which the movie is based. Inman says, "I have a deal to thank you for." Now we would say, I have a great deal to thank you for, but just using deal, I have heard before.
Swimmer
Although Swimmer in the book plays a different part, he is represented in the movie. Other references are made to the Cherokee Nation, which finding Cold Mountain on the map, yes it is a real place, you can see is still in the area, alive and well! No place in the US should be depicted historically without an Indian reference, if you want to be acurate!
Best Image to Narrative F6
Ruby and Ada are sprawled on a bed, while Ada is reading. Nicole Kidman has a wonderful voice to listen to. She reads a passage from Wuthering Heights, a classic, and while she is reading in the flickering candlelight and they are warm and comfortable, we see Inman walking, crossing a rocky stream in the forest, cold and damp, and the words apply to him. Ada reads, My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods, time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff, resembles the eternal rocks beneath, a source of little visible delight, but necessary. He's always, always in my mind."
It can't get much better than this!Other Favorite Scenes
I Love how Inman's character claims to have so much trouble expressing himself, and then almost immediately he turns around and says something totally eloquent. Examples. F7 A conversation between Inman and Ada on the porch, in the rain, where he is soaking wet and won't come in the house, so Ada brings a tray out in order to talk to him. Their conversation is awkward and he says,"If it were enough just to stand, without the words..." Ada says, "It is". Then he says, "Look at the sky now. What color is it? Or the way a hawk flies? Or you wake up and your ribs are bruised thinking so hard on somebody. What do you call that?" Ada just stares at him intensly and I'm thinking she is thinking, there is something to this man, something that runs deep. I think this is when she falls in love with him.
The Kiss F8 That needs no explanation.
The conversation by the fire toward the end when she asks how could she keep him? They had only a few moments. He explains that each moment they had, he kept like a bag of tiny diamonds, and that was what kept him from sliding into some dark place. It goes on. Yes, he really has trouble expressing himself! F9
The Bartram
I Love it when there is a reference to something in a movie and you check it out and it exists! In this case, Ada gives Inman a book. It is real, I have it. There are several versions but the original is titled, Travels through North & South Caroline, Georgia, East & West Florida by William Bartram. It was first published in 1791. He was a precursor to Lewis and Clark and traveled the area in 1773. He was a botanist, who traveled the eastern state areas studying the land, the flora, fauna & people. He took entensive notes and made drawings to catalogue the area. He is a resource to a time long past. His father also a botanist, established the first botanical garden in America, in Philadelphia. I have only read brief parts so far but find it very interesting!
Conclusion
I think this movie combines many elements. There is war for men, romance for women, history, music, beautiful scenery all blending in a story. Ada's narration of her letter says, "You said after a few years I would barely remember your name... Oh Inman, it has been more than 3 years, and I remember your name!". This movie is memorable!
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Be sure its during the day! Very Cool!
posted by whitesky4 @ 3:40 PM
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