The Messenger plays out like a tragedy. It is about war, death, and dealing with it all. There are so many films that are about war nowadays, but this one stands out because the story is not about being in the war, but the effects of one. This film is about what occurs back home and to the families who have lost their husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters. Everyone feels the pain and suffers due to war and some never even have to step foot on to a battle field.
A U.S. Army officer named Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) returns home from Iraq and is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service to finish out his three months. These officers go around and tell loved ones of the fallen soldiers the bad news before the media or internet or anyone else gets the chance. Montgomery’s partner is fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) and he has been doing this for a while. He knows the job and the specific rules of the job. It is definitely a tough job, but someone has to do it. Samantha Morton plays one of the people who is notified that her husband has been killed in battle and she shows more compassion for Montgomery and Stone than any one ever has before. Soon Montgomery and her begin a relationship, but may not be appropriate considering the circumstances.
This film becomes about Montgomery trying to get back in touch with who he was before the war. But he has changed and it is hard to imagine him ever becoming the man he used to be. And Stone has his own regrets and finds himself disappointed with how he has served his country. Again, it is a tragedy to see these soldiers get out of harm’s way, but war manages to haunt them even when they are home. You wonder if they will ever have any peace.
The film has quite a few powerful scenes, but Steve Buscemi as a father who has lost his son is one of the best. The emotion and grief explodes onscreen. As does his anger and hatred for his son being killed and not Montgomery or Stone instead. It’s not a huge part of the film but it sure sticks with you.
Foster and Harrelson are great in this. They each are great actors in their own right, but their chemistry is undeniable. Harrelson has been doing good things this whole year. The way he can play a guy like Tallahassee in Zombieland and then turn around and play Stone is amazing. It is safe to say Harrelson has a wide range as an actor. Then there is Foster. You can always get a good performance out of him even if the movie itself isn’t that great (Example: Pandorum). He is a reliable actor and this may be his best performance yet in his young career. And just think – he is the same guy who was in Flash Forward on the Disney Channel. He has come a long way and his star is still on the rise.
The Messenger can be depressing and sad. It is about war and it’s consequences so that is to be expected. But the film has humor and it’s moving and is about friendship and basically being able to survive in a world that used to be familiar, but now is unrecognizable.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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