Most underrated, profound and misinterpreted movie ever…
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happygirl147 — 18 years ago(March 08, 2008 04:21 AM)
I've found some statements Heath Ledger made in relation to this movie, which are just so true:
Asked if he empathizes with his character in light of his actions, Ledger admits he is torn.
"That was one interesting thing when I first read the script because on the page, he read as a coward," he explains. "He didn't want to go to war, and he was using marriage as an excuse, and his friends sent them these feathers and he's like: 'Oh, I'm a coward. I've got to redeem myself now.' Then, just through research and talking and asking myself questions, and putting myself into positions, I came to the conclusion that just that decision, that cowardly decision was the most heroic thing that he did. That was the most courageous thing he did in his life, going against everything around him and his systematic upbringing, and he'd been spoon-fed an identity up to that point and he had an identity crisis once he was confronted with the reality of his life."
Ledger then points a finger at the other soldiers in the film, describing them as sheep for doing something they didn't believe in.
"If he had gone to war, then he would've been a coward because he would've been denying himself," he argues.
For the full story, go to
http://www.heathbaby.com/k2news/Archive.php?Action=ShowNews&NewsID =259
I also found this:
In addition, Feathers' Harry Faversham is a far more complex character than Gabriel Martin, the knee-jerk warrior Ledger portrayed in The Patriot, who never doubted that his rightful place was at the forefront of battle.
"He reads on the page, my character, as a coward," he says. "I mean, I looked at it and said, 'This guy is a coward, he doesn't want to go to war, he's using his marriage as a cover, and his friends are sending him feathers of cowardice, and he deserves them. And what he's doing, he's going out to try and reclaim a little dignity.' That's how it read.
"But what I saw in it, and what Shekhar confirmed, is that, in that act of cowardice, he's being quite courageous. That's where his courage came from. There was a lot of dynamic involved in each decision [he made], in each action. There were a lot of layers, a lot of subtext."
Unfortunately, not all those layers, not all that subtext, will be available to American audiences. Some 50 shots were trimmed from the film, Ledger said, to ensure it would get a PG-13 rating, as opposed to the more restrictive (and potentially less lucrative) R.
"It does kind of drive me crazy," Ledger admits, while acknowledging it probably drives director Kapur even crazier. "There are little things. At the end of the movie, when I'm stabbing this guy, in this version, I stab him once and that's it. In the other version, I stab him, like, 50 times. It's a big, belching scene, and I'm just the emotions of my character just come pouring out."
"The ratings in America are a lot stricter than everywhere else," he says. "Everywhere else in the world said, 'Yeah, that's fine.' If you ever get to see what the rest of the world sees, it's a helluva lot more intense."
Full story:
http://www.heathbaby.com/k2news/Archive.php?Action=ShowNews&NewsID =44
There are more fantastic articles and interviews here:
http://www.heathbaby.com/k2news/Archive.php?Action=List&a=10308564 00&b=1033448399
DON'T MISS THIS BRILLIANT MOVIE - IT HAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED MY LIFE AND IT MIGHT HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON YOU
"Be the flame, not the moth." -
subliminalmonk — 18 years ago(March 30, 2008 04:27 AM)
It seems
springrose
your opinions, as sweet as they are, are born from a personal political belief seemingly supported by Heath and the movie. As though, it validated something in you to do with not only disapproving of War but soldiers as well.
I admit this is a bit presumptuous since i don't know you, so understand this is solely derived from your text.
Why is one choice courage and not the other? To fight or to not. Some could see Harry's choice as being a sheep. I don't. I don't see the soldiers as sheep either.
Jack Durrance is the yang to Harry's yin here. While i can accept the observation most Harry's friends in the regiment there simply because of expectation. I can't allow the same to be said of Jack. Jack is the
very definition
of a
warrior
. Noone has to convince him he is to fight, In his heart he
is
England and England has been challenged.
The film is great in this aspect not because one choice was better than the other. We surprise even ourselves when we are brought to the line. Only then knowing who we truly are and what we truly feel. The heart of this film is what ties us together in and despite these lines or moments.
We have to look beyond our own convictions despite their validity or bravery when the time calls for us to
be there for each other
.
Harry wasn't wrong because he wouldn't fight for his country. That's surface level. What's confusing to he and his is that, swearing one's
"allegiance and oath to uphold the dignity of the People and their Flag"
was elementary to wearing the Officer's Coat in the Royal Cumbrians, a division far above the Regulars. The RC are, after all, the very face of British authority, they are the ones who are unmovable in front of Buckingham Palace.
Something unrealised due to youth rang louder than that oath. Self-realizations that spoke to identity. An oddly freeing yet confusing moment, capturing one's pride Image.
Only later did Harry learn what was really importanant. He was wrong for not being there for his friends in the most crucial of times , saving there lives. The feathers were not sent to represent his fear, but rather his friends fears. They felt betrayed.
Interestingly This is why Jack
didn't
send a feather. Although he wanted his friend there and felt confused the same, he did not feel he needed anyone to have his back and fear was not in his blood. He could do it alone if need be. And here's his lesson. Wiothout Harry, he'd be worse than blind. He now must face his reality in the dark. And finds the true value of loved ones. Even replacing Harry with Ethne. -
silverbullets — 17 years ago(June 28, 2008 10:56 PM)
Why does it always seem on imdb that no one else is allowed to have an opinion different from one's one? Always dissing others in a patronizing wayalways taking offense at the littlest thing. Sheesh. Each view is interesting. But no need to minimize others' or mock them.
I guess movies make us 'feel' intensely, but come on. Let people have their opinions. We all want our opinions and views to be respected, so let's give respect. -
hheinrich2 — 17 years ago(August 08, 2008 11:49 PM)
Springrose:
I want to let you know I agree with both of your posts. Heath Ledger is my favorite actor also. It took me a while longer to watch this and a couple of his other movies that were not box office hits (or better, highly commercialized movies, which there are few). But, this movie has changed me. I can't believe (but not surprised) how few people know of it. And, thank you for posting his comments in your second post. I will admit, I cried after it was over, partly because of how powerful the movie is if you truly understand what's happening, and secondly, for the loss of the probably the most gifted actor in my lifetime, may he rest in peace.