Jude Law's Chilling Performance
Jude Law, nominated Thursday for a Golden Globe, plays a character in "Cold Mountain" who is is hunted, shot at, wounded, drugged, chained and buried.
But in an interview Thursday on The Early Show, Law says he had no concern for the physical challenges.
"I suppose it's one of those things you see it from the page and you see what's in store for you," Law told co-anchor Rene Syler. "It's interesting, the biggest challenge for me wasn't any of the physical obstacles, it was more ensuring that Inman's voice and journey, if you like, was clearly portrayed through someone who distrust words. I have probably 50 lines in the whole film and, yet, he's at the heart of it and in the forefront of the whole picture."
The last time Law teamed up with director Anthony Minghella for "The Talented Mr. Ripley," he received an Oscar nomination. He could well be on that path again for his performance as a soldier on a physical and spiritual journey in the Civil War-era "Cold Mountain."
The director was quoted as saying he had no doubt Law was right for the role, but he worried about putting the actor through all the physical difficulties the role called for. As Inman, a Civil War Confederate soldier, Law is hunted down, captured and tortured in several instances. The British actor also took on a southern American accent to go along with his Confederate uniform.
In the movie, Inman is seriously wounded in battle before heading home to North Carolina to his pre-war beloved, Ada (Nicole Kidman).
Ada, with the help of a young drifter Ruby (Renee Zellweger), tries to hold onto the farm of her deceased father. During Inman's journey, he encounters slaves and bounty hunters, soldiers and witches, unexpected friends and dangerous enemies at every turn.
Asked if he has been able to relax and watch the film, Law says, "I was very fortunate in that Anthony works and lives about 10, 15 minutes from where I live in London, so he was incredibly generous once we finished making it in Romania. He said, 'You know, pop by, come and be a part of the process. Watch it being edited and give your opinion.' So I saw it at various stages."
The film is getting critical acclaim and, like Law, has gotten a Golden Globe nomination. Though no stranger to praise, Law says he is thrilled with the way the film is being received.
He adds, "I'm just thrilled that it's finished, that Anthony has done what he's done with his collection of work, if you like, that everyone put into it and, now, there is an opportunity for everyone else to see it and at the heart of it, I hopefully carried this wonderful character. And I'm thrilled that people recognize that and I just hope that people see it and enjoy it."
Law was seen most recently in Sam Mendes' acclaimed drama "Road to Perdition." Previously, Law was honored with a nomination for an Academy Award for his role in "The Talented Mr. Ripley." He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his work as a cyborg in Steven Spielberg's "A.I."
Law's credits include roles in David Cronenberg's sci-fi fantasy "Existenz," opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh and Willem Dafoe; and in "Wilde," opposite Stephen Fry and Vanessa Redgrave, for which he won the London Film Critics Circle Award and the Evening Standard Award.
He made his American film debut in "Gattaca" opposite Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Next, he was seen in Clint Eastwood's "Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil" with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack.
One of Law's latest role was in Jean Jacques Annaud's World War II epic, "Enemy at the Gates," co-starring with Joseph Fiennes, Ed Harris and Rachel Weisz.
On Broadway, Law starred opposite Kathleen Turner and Eileen Atkins in the hit play "Indiscretions." He won a Theater World Award as well as a Tony nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the part. He originated the role in London at the Royal National Theater, for which he received the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer.