THE MESSENGER (USA 2009) **
Directed by Oren Moverman

Nobody likes or wants to watch films about the Iraq war.  Box-office results have proven that.  To make a film about two veterans of the Army’s Casualty Notification Unit delivering sad news of the deceased to the next-of-kin must have proven a hard sell for Oren Moverman making his directorial debut.  But flaws and all, THE MESSENGER is at times, an astonishing work.

The film’s focus is Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) assigned to spend the remaining months of his decorated service in the Casualty Notification Service under the command of Cpt. Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson).  Stone reads out the strict list of rules that must be adhered to, which obviously will be broken by Will as the film progresses.  One is to not to get involved personally with the families.  Will falls for Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton) to whom they have just delivered news of her husband’s death.

The story is somewhat predictable.  Moverman puts in three such varied death deliveries all amusing in a morbid sort of way.  The last involves Olivia and Will’s encounter with her releases his and Tony’s past demons.  And romance is also in the air.

Moverman’s film is dead serious in tone from start to finish.  The best thing about THE MESSENGER is that it allows Moverman’s actors to shine with the result of Harrelson winning both a Golden Globe and Oscar Best Supporting Actor nomination.  Newcomer Foster is also really good, and looks like a young Harrelson that would most likely transform into the older solder had his character not met Olivia.  Morton’s understated performance is the best of the lot.

But the MESSENGER eventually drags on the final gruelling reel where the audience has to be put to the process of witnessing the brutal redemption of the two men.  Humour could have enlivened the proceedings, particularly the wedding crash at the end, but Moverman plays his film with minimal humour. 

THE MESSENGER should be seen for the three performances and the dramatic set-ups.  The film does much, much better in the first half.