Showing posts with label Natalie Portman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natalie Portman. Show all posts

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Cold Mountain (2003): Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and the Civil War


     Written and directed by the late Anthony Minghella, based on the novel by Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (2003) was a sleeper hit, proving to be one of the best films on the decade, and grossing over twice it's budget. Focusing on a Confederate Army deserter trying to find his way back to his love towards the end of the American Civil War, Cold Mountain is all-together beautiful, sweeping and epic. The cinematography is crisp and the 1860's period detail is fitting. Nicole Kidman is elegant, strong and sensual throughout the film. Jude Law is resilient in his lead role. Renee Zellweger earned an Oscar for her tough supporting role. Natalie Portman and musician Jack White (of the White Stripes) have small, but good parts. The rest of the cast is great as well, including Brendan Gleeson, Donald Sutherland, Giovanni Ribisi, Ray Winstone, Lucas Black, Cillian Murphy, James Gammon, Taryn Manning and Philip Seymour Hoffman.


Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Donald Sutherland

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman tintype

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law tintype

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Natalie Portman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Natalie Portman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law and Natalie Portman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jack White tintype

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Natalie Portman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman dressing on set

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Jude Law

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Natalie Portman

Cold Mountain. 2003. Civil War: Nicole Kidman

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Goya's Ghosts (2006): Natalie Portman, Javier Bardem, Spanish Art and the Inquisition


     Written and directed by Milos Forman, Goya's Ghosts (2006) sets a fictional story against an authentic and tumultuous backdrop of late 18th to early 19th Century Spain. The plot centers on the scandal surrounding a beautiful young model of painter Francisco Goya, as she accused of being a heretic by a devious monk and imprisoned by the Holy Inquisition. The dark details come to life in all their squalor and opulence with wonderful set design and great attention to historical detail. Natalie Portman is both lovely and tragically changed as the artist's muse. Javier Bardem is power as the opportunistic Father Lorenzo. Stellan Skarsgard is great as Francisco Goya. In an odd casting choice, Randy Quaid costars as the King of Spain.



Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts: Javier Bardem

Goya's Ghosts, 2006

Goya's Ghosts: Natalie Portman