Vanguard

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Entertainment

Summary
Harry Stevenson, played by Morgan Freeman, chronicles the love lives of a group of friends located in Portland, Ore., in "Feast of Love." The circle of friends undergos a multitude of changes as Harry looks on attentively. Friends marry, sometimes for the right reasons, sometimes not; friends find love only to lose it.

Acting
"Feast" has an incredibly large cast, but thankfully each member is also incredibly talented. From Freeman's portrayal of a loving husband and grieving father to Radha Mitchell's portrayal of seemingly cold-hearted real estate agent Diana, each actor portrays a well rounded and thoroughly human character with depth and subtlety.
The youngest members of the cast, Alexa Davalos and Toby Hemingway, play the couple Chloe and Oscar, respectively. In spite of being the youngest members of the film, they portray emotional characters with the poise of veteran actors. Greg Kinner plays innocent-hearted and love-torn Bradley Thomas with more than a fair amount of realism. The cast is larger than this, but these actors stand out for both their more prominent roles and their strong acting skills.

Directing
Robert Benton directed "Feast of Love," and most moviegoers in the mood for a slightly off-kilter romance will not be disappointed with the movie he created. There are times the movie could have easily lost its audience's attention, but Benton manages to bring in a little something to surprise them at just the right moments.

Storyline
The plot of this story could easily seem contrived and forced; instead, the relationships and coincidences of the movie feel strong and very possible. The movie really pushes the idea that love is everywhere, and we need only look to find it. A unique aspect of the story is its lack of an antagonist. Again, people are human. Sometimes that means we make selfish choices or take risks even though we know we will be hurt.

Overall
"Feast of Love" is a romance. It can not be called simple or perfect because life and people are not simple or perfect. However, it can be called beautifully complex. We receive a nuanced story about finding love, losing loved ones, taking chances and protecting those in need. Every romantic at heart should enjoy the amazing journey "Feast" takes him/her on.

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