I have held this movie at arms length for too long. Finally I purchased it and gave it a watch. Being African-American I suspected that it was a civil war story told from the POV of an endearing southern ( what if we had won...like a Gone with the Wind sort of arch. Happy go lucky slaves and all. Nonetheless, in my desire to see Nicloe Portman in everything I can before the Snow White movie launches and also to see Jude Law, who I loved in AI ( I have not seen him much) I parted from my prejudice and glad I did.
The movie was quite long but the adventure of the guy's return was outstanding. My favoite character along his journey was the naturalist/herbalist who killed the goat while nurturing it..that was outstanding and despite the sentimentality designed to illustrate another type of agrarian (the other being the hateful planter) who is the villan. .He represents not only the old south but the ugly robber baron. The carpetbaggers to come. Renee Z, as the astute farm girl was on point. Her utilitareanism did well to complement the making of an Old Southern mistress myth being upheld by Portman's character. So despite the softening up of the southerner tradition here and there, the movie did not dwell there. It carried the love story in a war torn civilization(even while critizing itself)well. Such lines as "We hardly knew each other" reminded the viewer that the screenplay sat watching the movie with them (me). How could such a love endure? Nonetheless, the answer lies in the will to live...Bravo....
Jude Law seems an awful kisser. That disappointed me. He failed as a leanding man. However his character developement was well done. He exhuded the war weary traveller well. Just not a convicning lover. Natalie...well my jury is out...perhaps the self confessed "oddity" was what motivated her. For that she was good. But again she did not live up to the narrative she recited. Others: Phillip Seymore Hoffman and Renee Z.....as always...marvelous to them round out a cast and characters.
Making A Living Seeing
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