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

Big Eyes (2014): Amy Adams as Artist Margaret Keene


     Directed and produced by Tim Burton, written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, Big Eyes (2014) tells the biographical story of Margaret Keene, an artist whose husband took credit for her phenomenally successful paintings of big-eyed children in the 1950's and 1960's… and the subsequent $4 Million lawsuit and trial to prove her authorship of the popular works. The cast does a great job all-around, including Amy Adams as Margaret Keene, Christoph Waltz as Walter Keene, Danny Huston, Jon Polito, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman and Terence Stamp.



Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes, 2014

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams and Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams and Margaret Keene

Big Eyes: Margaret and Walter Keene

Big Eyes: Amy Adams as Margaret Keene