The Four Feathers

1898, the British where fighting to gain control of the Sudan from the Mahdi. After a heavy loss, more troops are called to arms including Harry Faversham (Ledger) and Jack Durrance's (Bentley) battalion. On hearing the news that he is heading for war, Faversham decides to resign his commission and stay with his fiancée Ethne (Hudson) but she and his friends each send him a white feather, the military symbol for an act of cowardice. Reeling from the scandal, he head for the Sudan to prove them wrong and face his inner demons.

The pressures of self-doubt, family expectance and duty to your country are played out in an old fashioned view of heroism.

Director Shekhar Kapur brings A. E. W. Mason's novel to the silver screen in beautifully shot but slightly under developed insight into late 19th century colonialism. Even at over two hours long you can tell that this movie's original cut was much longer (a rumoured four hours) as the middle act seems quite jumpy and unbalanced, spoiling the flow of the film. The whole tone of the movie becomes far too mixed and it becomes difficult to categorise. It is a boy's own adventure, a historical drama or a political reflection of the current world situation, as there are elements of all three. The performances from the relatively young cast are good.

Heath Ledger is becoming an actor to watch. He is very comfortable with his leading role and plays the part of the unsure Harry very well. Wes Bentley continues to show the promise he exhibited in American Beauty with another fine performance. There is also good support from the always excellence Djimon Hounsou, Kris Marshall and Michael Sheen. Kate Hudson has a good crack at a British accent but has nothing much to do but be the object of Harry and Jack's affections.

The cinematography is superb as Robert Richardson (Platoon) captures all the extremes of the Sudanese desert, during battle and times of complete isolation. The locations also reflect the times extremely well. From the upper class officer training barracks to the deserts prisons, the era is authentically captured and beautifully photographed.

The Four Feathers deserved to more than what appears on the screen. While not a bad movie, you can help thinking that with this cast, director and crew the film should have been much more of an epic. Lets hope there is a Director's cut.

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2003