Poster

The Messenger ()


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

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Awards:
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 45 nominations.
  • See more »
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Cast verified as complete

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Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery
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Kelly
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Colonel Stuart Dorsett
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Captain Tony Stone
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Monica Washington
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Mrs. Burrell
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Emily
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Dale Martin
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Dr. Grosso
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Olivia Pitterson
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Motorcycle Cop
Jahmir Duran-Abreau ...
Matt Pitterson
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Recruiter Brown
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Recruiter Olson
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Teenager #1 (as Brian DeJesus)
T.J. Allen ...
Teenager #2
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Marla Cohen
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Mr. Cohen
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Returning Soldier
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Returning Soldier's Wife
Lindsay Michelle Nader ...
Claire
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Lara
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Pitterson's Father (as Carl Payne)
Francis A. Adams ...
Firing Party Team Leader
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Captain Garcia (as J. Salome Martinez Jr.)
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Mr. Vasquez
Kevin Hagan ...
Mr. Flanigan
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Mrs. Flanigan
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Alan
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Kelly's Father
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Cashier
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Soldier (uncredited)
Sara Jane Blazo ...
Kelly's Mother (uncredited)
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Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Marine (uncredited)
Robert Feeley ...
Vietnam Veteran (uncredited)
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Ramirez (uncredited)
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Soldiers Friend (uncredited)
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Flirty Girl (uncredited)
Francine Bianco Tax ...
Reception Pianist (uncredited)

Directed by

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Oren Moverman

Written by

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Alessandro Camon ... (written by) &
Oren Moverman ... (written by)

Produced by

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Steffen Aumueller ... executive producer (as Steffen Aumüller)
Gwen Bialic ... co-producer
Claus Clausen ... executive producer
Benjamin Goldhirsh ... executive producer (as Ben Goldhirsh)
Mark Gordon ... producer
Lawrence Inglee ... producer
Raymond Mansfield ... production executive
Christopher Mapp ... executive producer
Zach Miller ... producer
Shaun Redick ... executive producer
Glenn M. Stewart ... executive producer
Matthew Street ... executive producer
David Whealy ... executive producer
Bryan Zuriff ... executive producer

Music by

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Nathan Larson

Cinematography by

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Bobby Bukowski ... director of photography

Editing by

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Alex Hall

Editorial Department

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David Sherman Broad ... post-production intern (as David Broad)
Jason Crump ... dailies colorist: Mega Playground
Cristina Esterás-Ortiz ... dailies manager: Mega Playground (as Cristina Esteras-Ortiz)
Joe Gawler ... supervising digital intermediate colorist: Deluxe New York
Agnes Grandits ... first assistant editor (as Agnés Challe-Grandits)
Duck Grossberg ... data wrangler: Deluxe New York
Alex Kopit ... assistant editor (as Alexander Kopit)
Shikha Nirula ... dailies manager: Mega Playground
Tony Osso ... post-production intern
Alexander Rachel ... post-production intern (as Alex Rachel)
Jacob Robinson ... digital intermediate editor: Deluxe New York
Justin Sindone ... post-production intern
Darrell R. Smith ... digital intermediate coordinator: Deluxe New York
Michael Smollin ... dailies colorist: Mega Playground (as Mike Smollin)
Mitchell Ferm ... digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Cam McLauchlin ... digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
John Potter ... video mastering (uncredited)

Casting By

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Ali Farrell
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by

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Stephen Beatrice

Set Decoration by

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Cristina Casanas

Costume Design by

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Catherine George

Makeup Department

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Colleen Callaghan ... hair department head
Joseph Farulla ... special effects makeup (as Joe Farulla)
J. Ferrera ... additional hair stylist
Fabian Garcia ... key hair stylist (as Fabion Gracia)
Sharon Ilson ... key makeup artist (as Sharon Ilson Burke)

Production Management

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Luca Borghese ... post-production supervisor
Carrie Fix ... unit production manager
Adam Yauch ... executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Timothy S. Kane ... second second assistant director
Scott Larkin ... second assistant director
Curtis Smith ... first assistant director (as Curtis A. Smith Jr.)

Art Department

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Scott G. Anderson ... additional art director (as Scott Anderson)
Safa Ansarifar ... art department assistant
Junior Cyrus Baron ... on-set dresser (as Junior Baron)
James Bednark ... art department supervisor (as James R. Bednark)
Sarah Bricker ... assistant property master (as Sarah E. Bricker)
Travis Child ... camera scenic
Brian Cote ... scenic artist
Olenka Denysenko ... property assistant
Gino Fortebuono ... property assistant
Fritzgerald Francois ... set dresser
David Scott Gagnon ... leadman (as D. Scott Gagnon)
Emily Gaunt ... scenic charge
Shauna Kellin ... scenic charge
Hank Liebeskind ... set dresser
Elizabeth 'Biz' Lynch ... art department intern
Henry Marshall ... set dresser (as Henry Wulster)
Michele Mayas ... scenic artist
Vinny Mazzarella ... property master
Carla Messina ... scenic
Michael Lee Nirenberg ... scenic charge (as Mike Niremberg)
Celia Parker ... scenic
Michael Powsner ... on-set dresser
Bob Provenzano ... set dresser (as Bobby Provenzano)
Mike Reiersen ... art department assistant (as Michael Reiersen)
Niquan Riley ... property assistant (as Nequain Riley)
Rosalie Russino ... scenic (as Rosalier Russino)
James Seccafico ... set dresser
Jeffrey Smith ... art department assistant
Boaz Tcherikover ... art department assistant
Sylvia Trapanese ... scenic
Ian Bell ... props assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Javier Bennassar ... supervising sound editor
Mark DeSimone ... adr mixer
Caoimhe Doyle ... foley artist
Brian Dunlop ... foley editor
Marshall Garlington ... re-recording sound mixer
Anguibe Guindo ... boom operator
Jack Heeren ... foley mixer
Ken Ishii ... production sound mixer
Robert Jackson ... adr supervisor (as Bob Jackson)
Goro Koyama ... foley artist
Andy Malcolm ... foley artist
Joe Origlieri ... utility sound (as Joseph Origlieri)
Gabriel J. Serrano ... sound recordist (as Gabriel Serrano)
Leslie Shatz ... re-recording sound mixer / supervising sound editor
Callie Thurman ... assistant sound editor
Don White ... foley mixer
Mandell Winter ... dialogue editor
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas ... adr editor (uncredited)
Brooke Graeff ... foley assistant (uncredited)
Jan Petrov ... adr recordist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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John Bair ... visual effects supervisor: Guerilla FX
Vivian Connolly ... visual effects producer: Guerilla FX
Markus Janner ... scanning: deluxe New York
Chris MacKenzie ... smoke artist: deluxe New York (as Chris Mackenzie)
Sergei Martirosov ... digital compositor: Guerilla FX
Scott Winston ... digital compositor: Guerilla FX

Stunts

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Blaise Corrigan ... stunt coordinator
William Cote ... stunts (as Will Cote)
Geoffrey Dowell ... stunts (as Geoff Dowell)
Christopher Place ... stunts (as Chris Place)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Olga Abramson ... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Christian Baird ... additional electrician
Matt Blades ... key grip
Alan Blagg ... additional grip (as Timothy Alan Blagg)
Peter Bulavinetz ... additional grip (as Peter Bulawinetz)
Michael J. Burke ... first assistant camera
Beverly Cable ... additional electrician (as Beverly Jones)
James Casey ... grip
Kai Wai Cheng ... grip
Luis Contreras ... electrician
Ron Egozi ... camera operator
Sergei Franklin ... steadicam operator
John Gabriele ... additional grip
Bob Gambardella ... additional electrician (as Robert Gamberdella)
John Gatland ... best boy grip
Stephen Girouard ... additional grip
Donald Glenn ... dolly grip
Andrew Greve ... additional electrician
Erik Guldbech ... additional electrician
Lauren Haber ... second assistant camera
Nick Haines-Stiles ... grip
Tom Hamilton ... additional electrician
Sarah L. Hendrick ... second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Sarah Hendricks)
Petr Hlinomaz ... camera operator
Alex Irwin ... camera intern
Mike Jackson ... generator operator
Linda Kallerus ... first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Linda Slater)
Mark T. Karinja ... additional electrician (as Mark Karinja)
Kathleen King ... 24-frame playback: Visual Alchemy
Michael Kirsch ... grip
Daniel Luebke ... additional electrician (as Dan Luebke)
Andrew Maher ... camera intern
Brendon Malone ... additional grip
Michael C. Maronna ... electrician
Ken McCallum ... additional grip (as Kenneth Mccallum)
Camilo Mendoza ... camera intern (as Camillo Mendoza)
Evan C. Newell ... film loader
Paul Niccolls ... additional grip
Timothy J. Owen ... additional electrician
Andrew Palmer ... additional electrician
Antonio Ponti ... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Mike Quigley ... additional electrician (as Michael Quigley)
Leigh Rathner ... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Christopher Raymond ... first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Chris Raymond)
David Regan ... camera intern (as Dave Regan)
Guillaume Renberg ... camera crane operator (as Guillame Renberg)
Andrew Roddewig ... additional electrician
Francisco Rosario ... additional electrician
Ilse Rumes ... additional electrician
Joe Sarao ... additional grip (as Joseph Sarao)
Michael Sarluco ... additional electrician
Leo A. Schott III ... additional electrician (as Leo Shcott III)
Randy Schwartz ... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Simmonds ... camera operator
Markham Sindeband ... additional grip
Paul Swan ... additional grip
Niko Tavernise ... still photographer
Jason Velez ... gaffer
Ryan Velez ... electrician
G. Robert Vornkahl ... additional electrician (as Robert Vornkahl)
Jonathan S. Wolowec ... additional electrician (as Jonathan Wolowec)
Rob Woolsey ... additional grip (as Robert Woolsey)
Zenfeek ... best boy electric (as Jon Zenfeek Unjang)
Christopher DelSordo ... additional first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Karen E. Etcoff ... background casting: Kee Casting (as Karen Etcoff)
Maribeth Fox ... casting associate
Bill Tripician ... background casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Tamara Cepeda ... costume assistant (as Tamara E. Cepeda)
Amelie Chunleau ... costume intern
Marietta L. Clark ... set costumer
John Corbo ... set costumer
Cameron Dale ... assistant costume designer (as Cameron Folan)
Jeryd Nicole Hernandez ... costume intern
Deanna Nolasco ... costume intern
Elisa Santiago ... key costumer
Danielle Smith ... set costumer (as Danielle Stephenson)
Deirdre N. Williams ... costume supervisor (as Deirdre Williams)

Location Management

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Gabriel Greenberg ... location scout (as Gabriel Greenburg)
Abimael Jackson ... location assistant (as Abimael Jackson-Viana)
Daniel Pollack ... location scout (as Dan Pollack)
Ryan Smith ... location manager
Jennifer Sonnenfeld ... location production assistant
Sascha Springer ... assistant location manager
A.J. Swirz ... location production assistant

Music Department

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Julia Bembenek ... music coordinator
Brian Bulman ... music editor
Nathan Larson ... musician: score
Kevin March ... musician: score
Tracy McKnight ... music supervisor
Colby Trane ... music coordinator

Script and Continuity Department

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Tony Osso ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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Henry S. Avelin ... transportation captain
Ronald Baum ... driver: grip
Ian Bharath ... driver: fuel truck/two room
Paul Elliacin ... additional driver (as Paul Eliacin)
Frank Fennimore ... additional driver
Tom Fennimore ... driver: hair, makeup, wardrobe (as Thomas Fennimore)
Donald Fernicola ... driver: honeywagon (as Donald J. Fernicola)
Brent Godek ... car technician
George Grenier ... driver: star trailer
James Jardinella ... car technician
Joseph L. Johnson ... additional driver
Dennis Kelly ... transportation co-captain (as Dennis J. Kelly)
John Kelly ... driver: cast
Michael Papa ... additional driver
James T. Quinn ... additional driver
Stephen Rudolph Reeves ... driver: electric
Ray Roy Jr. ... additional driver
Joseph Scarpone ... driver: set dressing (as Joseph J. Scarpone)
Gary Valovich ... additional driver
Brian Weinstein ... additional driver

Additional Crew

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Jason Acevedo ... craft service: J&P Craft
Rajab Aesop ... craft service assistant: J&P Craft
Gabrielle Allen ... marketing and promotion
Colleen Arnerich ... additional office production assistant
John Bair ... title designer: main and end titles
Chris Barnes ... marine coordinator
Graham Begg ... head of film & television finance: ContentFilm International
Eric R. Bellamy ... payroll accountant
Deborah Blake ... set medic
Harrison Bohrman ... accounting clerk
Katie Brewer Ball ... set production assistant
Lauren Butler ... assistant production coordinator (as Lauren Butler-Dougherty)
Rosa Camero ... marketing
Jamie Carmichael ... President: ContentFilm International
Ann Clark ... attorney: Greenberg Traurig
Samuel Clark ... additional set production assistant
Brendan Cormody ... office intern
Jen Cox ... production accountant
Amy Crowdis ... additional set production assistant (as Amy C. Crowdis)
Gregory Cuozzo ... assistant chef: Gourmet To U
Libby D'Arcy ... vp business affairs: Content Media
Frank Dauro ... key set production assistant
Katherine DeJesus ... second assistant accountant (as Katherine Dejesus)
Fizaa Dosani ... producers asssistant
Christiaan Faberij de Jonge ... set production assistant (as Christiaan Faberij De Jonge)
Peter D. Graves ... executive marketing consultant
George Grenier Jr. ... craft service assistant: J&P Craft
Jon Haller ... assistant: Mr. Moverman (as Jonathan Haller)
Jonathan Hood ... office production assistant
Meredith Petty Hughes ... assistant: Ms. Morton (as Meredith Petty)
Michael Iduda ... parking assistant
Jen M. Johnson ... set intern (as Jen Johnson)
Jared Kaufmann ... assistant: Mr. Foster
Alexandra Keen ... head of legal and business affairs
Joe Kelly ... electronic press kit
Sonia Kifferstein ... assistant: Mr. Inglee
Dan Lasik ... assistant chef: Gourmet To U (as Dan Lasiy)
Lindsey Lefkow ... production secretary
Paula P. Manzanedo ... completion guarantor: Film Finances, Inc. (as Paula Manzanedo-Schmit)
Theresa Marsh ... first assistant accountant (as Theresa L. Marsh)
Harold McDougall ... attorney: Greenberg Traurig (as Harold Mcdougall IV)
John Merchant ... assistant: Mr. Harrelson / electronic press kit
Tasha Morris ... office production assistant (as Tasha E. Morris)
Ashanti Myke ... additional set production assistant
Zoë Nadel ... assistant: Mr. Inglee and Mr. Miller
Nick Naney ... office intern
Lisa Nitti ... attorney: Greenberg Traurig
Douglas Odell ... water safety
Ayo Ogundele ... parking coordinator
Olabisi Olagunju ... parking assistant
Olawale Onakoya ... parking assistant
Clinton Orman ... office intern
Greg Outcalt ... production coordinator
Stacy Owens ... assistant
Phillip Owolani ... parking assistant
Holly Pakfar ... set production assistant
Jorge Pina ... chef: Gourmet To U (as Jorge M. Piña)
John Puccinelli ... set production assistant
Bev Reese ... office intern
Lance Rizzo ... accounting clerk
Allison Robin ... clearance supervisor
Donte Robinson ... parking assistant
Allyson Seeger ... assistant: Mr. Gordon
Shara Senderoff ... assistant: Mr. Gordon
Ben Shirai ... office intern
Paul Sinor ... military assistant: Department of Defense Project Officer and Military Technical Advisor (as Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sinor US Army)
Lemarze Smith ... production assistant
Philip M. Strub ... military assistant: special assistant for entertainment media, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (as Philip Strub)
Abbey Taylor ... set production assistant (as Abagail Taylor)
Anthony Torre ... chef: Gourmet To U
Kristin Torre ... assistant chef: Gourmet To U
Jon Vernon ... electronic press kit
Harry White ... head of sales
Judith Baugin ... Head of International Marketing (uncredited)
Rob Buschgans ... accounting clerk (uncredited)
Fabrizia Dal Farra ... stand-in (uncredited)
Dann Fink ... adr loop group director (uncredited)

Thanks

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Ben Affleck ... special thanks
Wren Arthur ... special thanks
Bristol Baughan ... special thanks
Richard H. Birdsong ... special thanks (as Colonel Richard H. Birdsong MD)
Terra Bliss ... special thanks
David Bollt ... special thanks: tattoo design by
Amy Bonuso ... special thanks
Tony Bonuso ... special thanks
Anthony Bregman ... special thanks
Tom Brit ... special thanks: The Stage House Restaurant & Bar
Fiona Buck ... dedicatee
Jeff Buckley ... dedicatee
Andrew Burns ... special thanks (as LTC Andrew Burns)
George Carlin ... dedicatee
Frank Cassavetes ... special thanks (as Frankie Cassavetes)
David Connolly ... special thanks
Will Cook ... special thanks
Archie Drury ... special thanks
Thomas Duch ... special thanks
Jacqueline Eckhouse ... special thanks (as Jackie Eckhouse)
Art Edelstein ... special thanks
Bethany Escudero ... special thanks
Mitchell Ferm ... special thanks
Milton Finkelstein ... dedicatee
Pascual J. 'Tito' Flores ... special thanks (as Staff Sergeant Pascual J. 'Tito' Flores)
Sidney Fuller ... dedicatee
Barry Goldenberg ... special thanks
Terry Goodman ... special thanks: Public Affairs Officer, WRAMC
Anouk Grandits ... special thanks
Clea Grandits ... special thanks
Sean Grandits ... special thanks
Sylvia Grossman ... dedicatee
Eitan Hakami ... special thanks
Chanda Hall ... special thanks
Layla Hall ... special thanks
Skye Hall ... special thanks
Alex Halpern ... special thanks
Julianne Hausler ... special thanks
Todd Hido ... special thanks
Shane Holland ... dedicatee
William Horberg ... special thanks (as Bill Horberg)
Carl M. Johnson ... special thanks: HRL (as Col. Carl M. Johnson)
Hardwick Johnson ... special thanks (as Hardwrick Johnson)
Peter Kaufman ... special thanks
Philip Kaufman ... special thanks
Lodge Kerrigan ... special thanks
Russell Lee Klicka ... special thanks (as Staff Sergeant Russell Lee Klicka)
Chris Koch ... special thanks
Daniel Krasun ... dedicatee
John Kriegl ... special thanks
Shari Lawrence ... special thanks: Public Affairs Officer, HRC (as Ms. Shari Lawrence)
Robert Lax ... special thanks
Stan Lee ... dedicatee
Alden Leifer ... special thanks (as Dr. Alden Leifer)
Matt Leipzig ... special thanks
Andrew Lichtenstein ... special thanks
Kevin Logan ... special thanks: HRC (as Mr. Kevin Logan)
Laura Louie ... special thanks
Jennifer Mancino ... special thanks (as Jenny Mancino)
Raymond Mansfield ... thanks
Mary Ellen Mark ... special thanks
Roger Michell ... special thanks
Charles Morton ... special thanks
Amir Moverman ... special thanks
Ehud Moverman ... special thanks
Maya Moverman ... special thanks
Orly Moverman ... special thanks
Sharon Moverman ... special thanks
Tamar Moverman ... special thanks
Yael Moverman ... special thanks
Annie Nelson ... special thanks
Carolee Nisbet ... special thanks: Public Affairs Officer
Jonathan Nossiter ... special thanks
Jim O'Hagen ... special thanks (as Jimmy O'Hagen)
Jim Oorthuys ... special thanks
Max Patel ... special thanks
Tom Petty ... dedicatee
Pearle Plante ... dedicatee
Sydney Pollack ... special thanks
Frank Puccinelli ... dedicatee
Bingham Ray ... special thanks
Phil Rizzuto ... dedicatee
Russ Robertson ... special thanks
Ann Ruark ... special thanks
Ira Sachs ... special thanks
Carly Schmidt ... special thanks
Michael Sheresky ... special thanks
Robert Spiegel ... special thanks: Edison Wetlands Association
Daniel Steinman ... special thanks
Anthony Swofford ... special thanks
Jeff Swofford ... dedicatee
John Tolleson ... special thanks: Bark-B
Daniel Wagner ... special thanks
Suzanne Warren ... special thanks
Kenneth Washington ... special thanks: Ft. Myer (as Mr. Kenneth Washington)
Bruce Waterfall ... dedicatee
David Wheeler ... special thanks: Edison Wetlands Association
Ron Yoshida ... special thanks
Rita Zanipatti ... special thanks

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

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, whose husband was killed in Iraq. His initial encounter with Olivia leads to him wanting to get to know her better, which may not be in either her or his best interest. Despite being a recovering alcoholic, the more experienced Tony tries to guide Will as best he can under their collective circumstances. Written by Huggo

Plot Keywords
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • El mensajero (United States, Spanish title)
  • The Messenger - Die letzte Nachricht (Germany)
  • El mensajero (Spain)
  • El mensajero (Peru)
  • El mensajero (Argentina)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 113 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $6,500,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend United States $44,523, 15 Nov 2009

Did You Know?

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Trivia The scene where Will (Ben Foster) and Olivia (Samantha Morton) speak to each other in her kitchen is eight minutes long and was shot in one take. Co-writer and director Oren Moverman allowed actors and actresses to improvise in certain scenes. See more »
Goofs Several times throughout the movie, Captain Stone notifies next of kin of deceased soldiers without first getting positive confirmation that they are, in fact, the soldier's next of kin. Casualty Notification Officers are required to make sure that the person they are addressing is actually the next of kin before making notification. This is not a mistake that a professional like Captain Stone would make. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Zombieland/A Serious Man/Whip It (2009). See more »
Soundtracks Put Your Hands Up See more »
Quotes Captain Tony Stone: [walking to deliver the news to a wife that her husband has died] It could be worse. It could be Christmas.
See more »

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