Cold Mountain

"Cold Mountain" - an epic war period drama directed and written by director Anthony Minghella - was released in 2003. The movie was inspired by a bestseller novel in 1997 with the same title by author Charles Frazier. Its overall plot seems deceptively straightforward at the first glance; nevertheless, the movie's grand execution, nuanced characters, along with a talented actor ensemble successfully turned Cold Mountain into a memorable masterpiece.

In the movie, one Confederate soldier was determined to come back to Cold Mountain (his hometown) and the love of his life, who's waiting for him there. Throughout the journey, his experiences touch our hearts as they slowly unfold all the war horrors.

Cillian's role is pretty minor in this film, especially when we take in the story's massive scale. Among an extensive cast with big names like Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, and Jude Law, Cillian Murphy plays Bardolph, a scruffy character that only makes brief appearances in the movie. Yet, his performance is so captivating, which accentuates the heaviness of the story and makes the movie even more well-kept. Though not a perfect movie by any chance, Cold Mountain is still a worth-watching piece, centering on amazing tales of freedom, love, and humans' strong will to prevail despite the darkness.

Year of Release: 2003

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%