Review: Four Feathers

#81 - Four Feathers


Four Feathers is about a man named Harry that is about to be deployed to Sudan on behalf of the British army, but he, instead, resigns from it all out of fear for his life. He is viewed as a coward and receives four feathers from his friends and fiancee. Feathers are a symbol of cowardice, and Harry does not take lightly to this gesture. Once his friends are in Sudan, he travels there himself to infiltrate the enemy territory and help his friends to a victory. He is beaten, starved, and grasping onto his life before he befriends a native of the country, Abou. Abou says that Harry was put in his way by God, so it is his duty to protect him. When Harry needs saving from an enemy prison, Abou saves him and Harry returns to England - no longer a coward and viewed as a hero by all. He not only saved two of his friends from their attackers, but he put his best friend, Jack's, needs before his own. He helped his country in a way that none of the other soldiers could. In the end, Harry has become quite attached to the feathers because it has been his method of motivation and, as he puts it, "luck."

I have no idea why I own this movie. It's definitely not an amazing film, but it does have Heath Ledger in it. Heath Ledger is method acting at its finest. Give me a movie that he has been in that you don't love his performance. You can't. He was a phenomenal actor that left us entirely too soon. I don't make a habit of calling too many actors geniuses for fear of it losing its level of praise, but Heath Ledger is on the top of that genius list. He does it again in Four Feathers. There are a few scenes near the end of the film that I cried right along with him. He is believable from start to finish. Another actor in the film that is incredible is Djimon Hounsou. What an actor. Djimon is another one of those one in a million actors. I haven't seen him in enough yet to label him genius, but he definitely shines on screen. The relationship between Abou and Harry is both endearing and inspiring. Neither one of these two men even really know each other, but they are both willing to risk their lives to protect one another.

The first half of the movie really lags. I was bored, and I even considered turning it off at one point. Wes Bentley is a snooze fest. He's stale and awkward on camera. Cast him alongside Heath Ledger and Michael Sheen, and he completely fades to the background. The build up to the men going to war and Harry saving his friends seems like four hours instead of just one. Most of the action is left to the end of the film, as well as the emotional moments with Harry. Once Harry enters the enemy's prison to save his friend, Trench, THAT'S when it starts to get good. A lot of desert scenes equals zzzzzzzzzz. However, the second half of the film is intriguing and exciting. To know that Harry endures so much pain and suffering just to prove that he is not a coward, that's incredible.

Overall, this movie is not one that I would watch again. Not because it's bad, but because it's just not my cup of tea. I don't give boring movies a second glance. Sorry, Heath.

I give Four Feathers 2.5 out of 5 stars.