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, ...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

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

The last shot filmed was after Will finds out that Kelly's getting married and is on the floor, desperately trying to sleep, and puts the blanket over his head.

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Goofs

Montgomery wears an armor crest as his branch insignia and also wears a Combat Infantry Badge. Since his branch insignia crest represent that he is an armor crewman and not infantry, he should not be wearing a Combat Infantry Badge. Only the infantry can wear a Combat Infantry Badge after being awarded the badge while in combat.

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Quotes

Captain Tony Stone: Civilian life's for people who ain't seen shit. It's too late for you, you've already seen the shit, you can't unsee it anymore. You can't be an insurance salesman now, brother, it's too fukin' late.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Shrek Forever After/Survival of the Dead/Holy Rollers (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Stranger in a Strange Land"
(1970)
Written by Leon Russell, Don Preston
Performed by Leon Russell
Published by Irving Music Inc., on behalf of Skyhill Publ. Co.
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Unusual and sensitive

I will not reiterate the plot of The Messenger; it has been done exhaustively already. The relevant facts, to me, are: This movie is a work of art in which the intentions of the director, writer, cinematographer and actors are all united. The actors, especially leads Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton, give subtle, nuanced performances. The plot is not cookie-cutter; you cannot guess what is going to happen at every turn. It is serious at its core but is not devoid of humor.

Lately, I have been happier with the older movies I see on cable than the movies showing in theaters. This is the exception.