Cold Mountain ***

Cast: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Kathy Baker, Aileen Atkins, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, Brendan Gleeson, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Winstone, Donald Sutherland
Director: Anthony Minghella

With the South on its way to losing the Civil War and he himself having just recovered from an injury, Inman desides to desert and return home to Cold Mountain, and hopefully Ada, the preacher's daughter. They barely know each other, and have not seen each other for a few years, she is his reason for living. The journey is long, but he is determined.

Ada has found herself living in disarray after the death of her father. Only the help of Ruby is keeping her alive at first, but then she begins to come into her own. She also lives, waiting for the return of Inman, and writing him letter after letter.

Some of this movie works, some does not. Inman's long journey home as well as Ada's struggle to survive are engaging, but the whole love story did not work for me. For as little time as they had together before Inman left, I find it difficult to believe that relationship would be enough to sustain either of them through all their trials and tribulations. Credible performances all around, but nothing outstanding.