The Englishman that went up Cold Mountain

Why I should watch two films starring Nicole Kidman on the weekend when I have never felt any emotion watching her perform other than 'meh', I don't know, but I did.

Cold Mountain. Nothing more than airport novel drivel -- like Bridges of Madison bloody County. But beautifully filmed. Interesting cast of supporting actors (and thankfully no Meryl Streep) but I never felt more than a faint echo of passion between the two leads and certainly no reason why they should pine for each other as much as they do. As for Jude Law, eyes like a British Udo Kier, head shaped like a Roman bust. Brooding, distant, untouchable. Certainly a better face to see on the big screen than the wet blanket blandness of the Cruises and the Pitts.

I didn't watch Lars von Trier's Dogville, I had it on in the background. One step up from the so very annoying The Idiots. (I never saw Dancer in the Dark) Fascinating, a candidate for a longer, more concentrated viewing. I liked the one scene between kid and Kidman -- the innocence of children's always been overrated, how refreshing to see one evil adult in the making.