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 The
Four Feathers
Starring: Heath Ledger, Kate Hudson, Djimon Hounson and
Wes Bentley
Directed By: Shekhar Kapur
Rated: PG13 - For violence
Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason
The
Four Feathers is the first true Epic of the millennium! It
is amazing and beautiful. There's hardly a flaw within its colossal
celluloiud capsule. We follow a man learn the truth about himself
and his honor as a strange past world is brought to life before
us in this obviously spectacular endeavor by director Shekhar
Kapur, cast and crew.
It's
1875. Master Harry Feversham (Heath Ledger) is a popular guy in
his little British society world. He's great at sports, super
swell on the retina (in a pompous "tea my lady?" way),
and he's a top soldier in the Queen's army that would die to protect
his friends in battle.
Or
so they all think.
When
a true battle breaks out in the Sudan and the British army of
yesteryear is called upon to save the Queen's name. It is a call
to arms. Harry has a mental meltdown. He thought he would ride
his days out in the army without any need to actually put to use
this intensive jolly good fun training…
Now
they expect him to go and kill and be killed for what he sees
merely as a baren dismal chunk of desert? He thinks not.
See,
Harry's just become engaged to the beautiful Ethne (Kate Hudson).
He wants to make babies and darn socks not leave and die.
Desert
the desert gig he thinks. Resign and all will be okay. Ah, but
he is the general's son. His love, Ethne, is a dead hero general's
daughter. Then there's his friends. They worship him and believe
the sun doesn't have nerve to rise till he waves his gifted hand
towards it. Still he must do what he feels. But will he get his
just desert for deserting the desert or a pleasant dessert?
He
resigns.
His
friends freak out, he freaks out his beloved freaks out. The only
one who truly doesn't desert Harry is his best friend and regimen
buddy, Jack (Wes Bentley). Jack looks crushed at the "cowardice"
but still believes in Harry. Sniff.
Jack heads off to the Sudan to fight and still wonders if Harry
is alright...
Discraced
and shunned Harry is left utterly alone and discarded by those
who cannot understand what the H-E- double hockey sticks he's
thinking. It is an honor to be bludgeoned for one's country after
all. How could he refuse?
But
when Harry hears the area his old chums are stationed in is under
a particularly deep poopie attack, he decides he must go to the
Sudan and try to help, not as a soldier, but as a concerned British
citizen. Somehow he will help.
Okay
he's not too bright. But what he lacks in fore thought he makes
up for in determination and resilience.
While crossing the desert he meets up with an enigmatic warrior
fellow named Abou (Djimon Hounson). Abou is a strong man with
strong beliefs. Beliefs very different from Harry, but still they
share a friendship as both are riddled with honor and integrity.
His meeting this rough (conveniently English speaking) warrior
may very well be the best thing that's ever happened to this hero
in-the-making.
The
Four Feathers is simply about a man searching for truth about
himself. A man learning to be a hero comes from inside and not
because you've been ordered to be one.
Self-doubt dance among the waves of bravery that will ultimately
lead Harry into two battles, one against the enemy and one against
himself.
Heath
ledger is proving himself to be a little powerhouse. Of course
my lip curls uncontrollably into a full snarl when I hear that
putrid A Knight's Tale fiasco brought up in conversation - what
 were
they thinking? But with his exact performance in Monsters Ball
and the old role, which got me -a-noticing-him in 10 Things I
Hate About you I think it is time to forgive Heath and toss his
Film La Poo A Knight's Tale into the
pile of live-and-learn. His Harry character is well rounded and
delivered with an Oscar glimmer behind it. He's aging lovely too.
Yes siree Bob Heath's filling out and forming into quite a manly
man of extreme proportions. Did ya know he's yet another Australian
import ( Perth)? I think some one should bottle their water and
force feed it to our boys here…
Wes
Bentley, who is just mesmerizingly handsome in a quirky jump-on-him-like-a
-rabid-Rhesus monkey way has got the most beautiful eyes on screen.
And he's needs them. He's not given many lines but with the power
behind those lookers words are frivolous accessories. You may
remember Wes as the quirky continually filming neighbor in American
Beauty. He stole every scene with stillness and an aura- it's
the same here.
Kate
Hudson is cut of another time and as the elegant Ethne she
just exuded subtle glamour. Kate's proving herself as a second-generation
natural talent ( she's the daughter of chickbabe extraordinaire
Goldie Hawn). The chemistry between her and Heath made his character's
journey to self worth believable and compelling.
Djimon
Hounson plays
the fierce warrior with intesity and a surging power. A wonderful
inspiring charcter portrayed by a wonderful steady actor.
The
actors are not the real stars of The Four Feathers though;
it is the cinematography the stunning costumes and the pristine
sets. And no wonder the film's exquisite. The team behind the
the fore mentioned beauty are none other than Robert Richardson,
Ruth Myers and Allan Cameron. They're all the cream of the design
crop.
Sure
there are some far-fetched fallacies freckled into the script
- but it's an epic. And the impeccable sets and monstrous battle
scenes converge with a stellar cast to make this one film to add
to the vault. Get out and see this if you're into good-old-fashioned
epic making at its finest! Bravo.
Lawrence
of Arabia's 40th Anniversary re-release opens today as well
so you have epic Sahara -camel-manly men in foreign land choices
to make. Both are breathtaking!
Snack
recommendation: Hummus, pita and bottled water.
The
soundtrack is gorgeous too. Visit the Official
Site for more info
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