The Messenger (I) (2009)

An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.

Director:

Oren Moverman

Writers:

Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman

Stars:

Ben Foster, Jena Malone, Woody Harrelson

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Foster	...	Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery
Jena Malone	...	Kelly
Eamonn Walker	...	Colonel Stuart Dorsett
Woody Harrelson	...	Captain Tony Stone
Yaya Alafia	...	Monica Washington (as Yaya Dacosta)
Portia	...	Mrs. Burrell
Lisa Joyce	...	Emily
Steve Buscemi	...	Dale Martin
Peter Francis James	...	Dr. Grosso
Samantha Morton	...	Olivia Pitterson
Paul Diomede	...	Motorcycle Cop
Jahmir Duran-Abreau	...	Matt Pitterson
Gaius Charles	...	Recruiter Brown
Brendan Sexton III	...	Recruiter Olson
Brian Adam DeJesus	...	Teenager #1 (as Brian DeJesus)

Storyline

While on a recent deployment to Iraq, US Army Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery is injured when an improvised explosive device goes off within close proximity to him. He is back in the States recovering from the more serious of those injuries, including one to his eye and leg. He has resumed a sexual relationship with his long time girlfriend Kelly, despite the fact that she is now engaged to another man who Will knows. With the few months Will has left in his enlistment, the army assigns him to the Casualty Notification Team in his area. Not having a background in counseling, psychology or grief management, he is unsure if he is well suited to this job. He is partnered with a career soldier, Captain Tony Stone, who teaches Will the precise protocol involved in the job. Tony tells Will, who quickly learns by on the job experience, that this job has its own dangers. As Will learns to adapt to the range of emotions of the next of kin, he is unprepared for the reaction of Olivia Pitterson, ...

---

Plot Keywords:

recovering alcoholic | sergeant | captain | casualty notification team | ethical dilemma | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

19 February 2010 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

El mensajero

Filming Locations:

Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$44,523 (USA) (13 November 2009)

Gross:

$1,108,684 (USA) (7 May 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oscilloscope Laboratories, Omnilab Media, Sherazade Film Development

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Oren Moverman had wanted to have a scene with Will and Tony singing a song but couldn't decide which song to sing, and settled on Home on the Range after hearing the song being played from an ice cream truck while scouting locations. This is then paid homage to after Will's first notification when he's sitting in Will's car and an ice cream truck passes by playing Home on the Range.

---

Goofs

Captain Stone claims to have served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, but does not have a "combat patch" on his right shoulder.

---

Quotes

Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: We walk into these people lives, we don't know shit.
Captain Tony Stone: Trust me... you don't wanna know.

---

Connections

References Fear Factor (2001)

---

Soundtracks

"The Angels Hung Around"
(2007)
Written by Jenny Lewis
Performed by Rilo Kiley
Published by BB Lindstrom Music / Big Blue Boat Music / Deprecious Music / Wonderful Pony Music Sub-published by Fintage Publishing & Collection B USA
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

'The Messenger' is powerful and engaging film.

Brilliantly acted film depicting two soldiers whose job it is to inform families when loved ones are killed in battle. Harrelson has never been better and Foster more than matches him all the way. It's emotional and engaging and genuinely painful at times. I had always thought how hard it must be to carry out such a job but had never really considered just what psychologically damage it could do long term to the person doing it. Harrelson depicts a man who has been doing the job far too long brilliantly and Foster in turn shows just what it can do to you initially. It's a perfect blend and the chemistry is excellent from start to finish. Deserves a much wider release and is with out doubt one of the best films of last year.