Four Feathers is one of those pictures that seemed to come out of nowhere. I don't think I heard a thing about it until a month ago. This is strange given the movie's large scope and the involvement of Elizabeth director Shekhar Kapur.

In the period piece, Heath Ledger plays a British soldier readying himself for war. When his troops are called off to battle, he opts to resign from the military, and instead focus on his relationship with his fiance (played by Kate Hudson.) This prompts his closest friends and fellow soldiers to send him four feathers, a harsh sign of cowardice. Unable to cope with feelings of guilt and confusion, Ledger sets out to prove his worth not only to those who have turned their backs on him, but to himself.

Ledger becomes more comfortable with each passing movie, and in Four Feathers, he really seems at ease and is able to hold his own against a cast of thousands. Wes Bentley (American Beauty) is even better as Ledger's good friend and fellow soldier. While at the surface he may seem rather bland, there is much there if you look deep. Bentley really adds depth to this heroic character.

Kate Hudson appears in a rather thankless, minor role as the love interest. However, she has a smile that lights up the screen and she won me over. The standout performance comes from Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Gladiator) as a slave who ultimately befriends Ledger. This is what the supporting player is all about. Hounsou is extremely charismatic, and he steals every scene he's in with power and conviction.

Four Feathers does have major flaws. It isn't particularly well written in terms of plot structure. I found myself questioning the motivation of various characters in the picture. It's hard to elaborate further without giving things away, so I'll just leave it at that. The final act of this movie is very sluggish and a tad convoluted. Hounsou reappears out of nowhere after being absent for a portion of the film. However, Four Feathers does pick up the pace, ending with an emotional wallop involving a reunion of two of the film's main characters.

Kapur obviously had his hands full with the massive scope of Four Feathers, and while it's hardly executed to perfection, there's enough here to recommend, be it the strong performances or the breathtaking cinematography.

I also admire Kapur for having faith in his audience. He doesn't resort to flashbacks and other such devises to get certain points across. He just tells the story in a straight forward fashion.

I doubt that Four Feathers will be remembered come the hectic awards season, but it's still a film I admire for many reasons, none bigger than a energetic supporting turn by Djimon Hounsou.