This sleeper, indie, "war-at-home" picture deserves as much attention and praise as the other war picture of 2009, "The Hurt Locker." Maybe more. "The Messenger" is emotionally charged and compelling watching as two very different soldiers in the Casualty Notification Unit perform their jobs notifying family members of each soldier’s death. It is captivating viewing as the family’s reaction is rarely what you would expect. The soldiers are stuck trying to get the necessary information out while allowing the person to process the information and react. First-time director Oren Moverman gets the mood of the picture exactly right, allowing the viewer to become intellectually and emotionally involved in the characters’ plights. I learned something about these soldier’s very tough job by watching this picture and felt like the better citizen for it.
Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) gets sent stateside for medical reasons. He is a hero from one of America’s ongoing wars, yet Montgomery is haunted by what occurred over there. His time in the military isn’t quite up and his medical problems are manageable, so he is assigned to Captain Tony Stone’s (Woody Harrelson) CN unit. Captain Stone has many rules, both written and unwritten, for Montgomery to follow to successfully complete each task. And Stone is looking to connect with someone on a personal level, because he is a man caught up in his work. When Montgomery forms a personal attachment with a widow (Samantha Morton; "Elizabeth: The Golden Age") on one of his notifications, the line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior is threatened.
Both of the film’s primary actors, Foster and Harrelson, are given adequate time to explore their character’s personalities and human weaknesses. Montgomery is disconnected from his life after his military experiences, but self-aware enough to spot this in others. Foster is an underappreciated actor that really shines as the likable, if slightly off kilter, Staff Sergeant Montgomery. Harrelson received an Oscar nomination for his role as Captain Stone. Stone comes across as a by-the-book officer, but opens up more of his personality to Montgomery as the story develops. He is a larger than life person, who is lonely and looking to connect with someone in his personal life. The job restrictions he places on himself bleed into his personal life. While the two men start the story in their own personal spheres, by the end they can connect on a level few non-soldiers could probably understand.
"The Messenger" is a straight-forward story told with minimal music and editing. It successfully highlights both the psychological problems encountered by the returning soldier and the holes left behind when sons/daughters or wives/husbands don’t return. The attraction felt between two of the main characters during an inopportune time is respectfully portrayed by the director without vilifying either party. This movie is probably the better picture when measured up against "The Hurt Locker," yet it doesn’t have the action beats the other war picture has. Do yourself a favor and rent "The Messenger" today to get a better understanding of the effects of war that most people don’t see.
Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.
