THE MESSENGER           

By Dianne L. Brooks

When writers Oren Moverman and Alessandro Camon came up with a screenplay about casualty notification officers they, not surprisingly, had some trouble talking anyone into financing it.  Iraq war movies haven’t been doing well: a controversial war, far removed from most people’s day to day consciousness, something we don’t necessarily want to be reminded of.

But they did put the money together and have made an outstanding film about two U.S. Army officers who have to deliver the very bad news to surviving families of their deceased brethren.  Sargeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) has just returned home after being wounded in the war and is assigned to accompany Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) on casualty notification duty.  As we watch the two face screaming mothers and a near violent father, the crux of the story materializes.  It is about what it takes to get through a job described as the hardest in the military.  Will thought it was tough on the front, but it’s harder, in an entirely different way, safely at home.

Like most good films, this one is about the main character’s transformation.  When we first meet Montgomery he’s the self-isolating loner, still carrying around that tough, stone-faced, emotional armor, imposed by military training and required by his experiences in Iraq.  But back home he starts to feel again, and little by little the mask starts to fall away. One of the widows that the pair notify, Olivia (Samantha Morton) appeals to Montgomery and he finds himself drawn back to her, despite the obvious prohibitions.

Simultaneously, a complicated and mutually supportive relationship grows between he and his superior officer.  

Ultimately, although it skillfully and authentically tackles a very serious subject, it’s a three person character piece.  The real drama centers on the developing relationships between Will, Tony and Olivia, and in that sense perhaps it could have been placed in a number of settings.  So it’s really not a war movie but a love story with some excellent performances.  Morton is always terrific, just about stealing the show in her few scenes.  Ben Foster, who has been seen previously in everything from X-Men: The Last Stand to 3:10 to Yuma to Six Feet Under, slips into an entirely different kind of skin to great effect.  Harrelson is superb as well, as the professional, career officer doing his best to balance the seriousness of the job with some levity, while not being overwhelmed by it all.

So although it has moments of humor, it’s not funny.  At the same time it’s not grimly tragic, it’s right in between.  It’s a bit slow in places: maybe it could have used more story or deeper character development or both, but it’s a fine film nonetheless. 

The Messenger opens in Los Angeles November 20, 2009.

Directed by Oren Moverman; written by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman; produced by Mark Gordon, Lawrence Inglee and Zach Miller; Director of Photography, Bobby Bukowski; edited by Alex Hall; music by Nathan Larson.  Released by Omnilab Media Group.  Running time: 112 minutes.

With:  Ben Foster (Staff Sargeant Will Montgomery); Woody Harrelson (Captain Tony Stone); Samantha Morton (Olivia Pitterson);  and Jena Malone (Kelly).