i find the first 90 minute of this film to be very interesting and even though a few part of it be ridiculous ( i. e. philip seymour hoffman character ) . the last 60 minute be distasteful and i begin to lose interest in the film . the last hour last forever and it seem . the movie be nicely acted and i can see why rene zellweger win an academy award since her character be so interesting . the movie also be beautifully film and the story be an emotional one . however and i find the message to be a bad one represent not surprising these day in hollywood . in this story and inman ( jude law ) desert the confederate army during the civil war . his reason represent his girlfriend miss him and want him home . he also get disillusion with war . ( can you imagine if every soldier who be in a similar boat desert the army in the two world war . ) yet and in this film of course and all of that be perfectly acceptable . then again and what liberal filmmaker have ever have a nice thing to say about the u. s. military . to add to their left wing slant and they portray a vigilante like posse go after deserter a cold blood sick killer . well and in the world of film and a we know represent good be portray a bad and bad be good . and only liberal would portray deserter a hero .