The Messenger (2008)

From NetFlix:

An injured U.S. soldier, Sgt. Will Montgomery (Ben Foster), is paired up with by-the-book Capt. Tony Stone (Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson) to notify families of killed soldiers — a job that bonds them as they debate different views on serving America. At odds at first, the two find common ground while facing life’s variety of battles. Oren Moverman directs this poignant military tale that co-stars Samantha Morton and Jena Malone.

You might expect a film about notifying next of kin to border on being maudlin. On the contrary, the film successfully avoids sentimentality mostly due to the varied and unexpected reactions of the next of kin.

It used to be that American film stars, as opposed to British stars, had to be beautiful or handsome. Ben Foster is ordinary looking and he steals the show. (He was the psycho Charlie Prince in 3:10 to Yuma (2007)). Samantha Morton is no runway model but she is perfect in this film. (She was the Irish immigrant mother in In America (2002)). Steve Buscemi has a wonderful minor part. Woody Harrelson plays Woody Harrelson.

Not perfect, but worth the watch.

Leave a Reply