(2012-04-29 03:22:34)

The Messenger

I thought the film was pretty good until the last 45mins when the film kind of became an obvious anti war movie and you kinda were just waiting for one of the charactors to be a closet homosexual or something. dont waste your time on this one folks.

playful_boricua69

(2012-04-28 08:14:29)

very good

I really liked this movie .. omg it made me cry so much.. but the only thing i dont like .. is that it shows a completely naked girl.. i mean do i really need to see a croch on a movie like that... the nudity to that extream it wasnt nessesary... but other than that it was a really good movie..

antoniotierno

(2012-04-26 16:41:27)

a sobering and striking drama

Another gloomy drama depicting what life is like when back home inwartime; this movie features some really great acting performances anda subject that resonates every time very powerfully. The plot hasn'tbeen developed too much, as the story feels more focused on thecharacters, on their moody and attitudes/emotions. It's about aremarkable direction relying very much on the introspective work of thelead actors. Ben Foster is terrific as a man permanently on the edge,Woody Harrelson excellent as well as one who's crossed the edgealready. Impressive is also the approach to heroism, without eversimplifying it and with a strong attention to the story-telling detail.And even though the plot takes a couple of contrived turns, there's asubtle, observant film-making about what's going on inside thecharacters for a change.

Michael O'Keefe

(2012-04-26 11:21:43)

A poignant military tale.

Oren Moverman directs this emotional and heartfelt military drama. Sgt.Will Montgomery(Ben Foster)returns from Iraq as a battle-wounded hero.He is short-time in his career and assigned to partner up with a rigid"lifer" Capt. Tony Stone(Woody Harrelson)to notify families of killedsoldiers. Both men have different views of this job's importance. Atfirst, the two were at odds; but find common ground in this service ofthe Army. One major rule is to not "put hands" on a family member.Montgomery's life will take an emotional turn after breaking this onerule. Harrelson is outstanding in this movie and Samantha Morton, asOlivia, a grieving widow, for me practically steals the movie. This maynot be her most attractive look, but she is so charming and perfectlysuited for her role. Also in the cast: Steve Buscemi, Jena Malone,Eamonn Walker and Lisa Joyce.

Roland E. Zwick

(2012-04-22 23:21:17)

beautifully observed and realized drama

You think your job's bad? Imagine being Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery(Ben Foster), whose duty it is to deliver death notices to the familiesand loved ones of soldiers killed in action. With just three months ofactive duty left before he's honorably discharged from the service,this decorated war hero has been placed under the tutelage of CaptainTony Stone (Woody Harrelson), who's been doing this sort of thing forso long now that it has become almost - but not quite - routine. Thingsbecome complicated, however, when Will becomes romantically attractedto Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morgan), one of the young widows to whomhe relates the shattering news. But the real focus is on the conflictand uneasy friendship between the by-the-book, struggling alcoholicStone, who harbors a certain degree of guilt for never having actuallyserved in battle, and the moody, sensitive, and slightly shell-shockedWill who's seen more blood-soaked action than he cares to think about.Yet, neither is a stereotype, for each is a complex individual dealingin his own way with the traumatizing effects of war - be it on the homefront or on the field of battle."Less is more" is the defining principle of "The Messenger," a vividand powerful movie that understands that there is often more drama inwhat is left unsaid than what is actually spoken. Everything thatoccurs in the film seems to happen beneath the surface, as each of thecharacters tries to put up a brave front even when lives and souls arebeing torn asunder right before their eyes. Screenwriters Oren Movermanand Alessandro Camon are not afraid to give each scene its due, even ifthat means letting it play out at great length or having the charactersfumble in their efforts to articulate what it is they're trying to say.The emotions are raw and complex in this film, and Moverman's elegiacdirection does full justice to the seriousness of the subject. Heallows his characters the dignity of space, yet is never so detachedfrom them as to render them objects of curiosity or pity. It's animpressive debut effort for the obviously gifted Moverman.The scenes in which the two men deliver the news to the various lovedones are staged and executed brilliantly, beautifully capturing themanifold ways in which people deal with sudden tragedy. Particularlyeffective is Steve Buscemi's devastating cameo turn as a father whocan't accept the reality of his son's death and, thus, strikes out atany convenient target as a means of channeling his rage.Foster and Harrelson deliver breathtaking, perfectly calibrated,award-worthy performances, and they are matched every step of the wayby a first-rate cast of supporting actors who never resort tograndstanding in the brief moments they appear on screen.The one false note occurs when the two drunk officers crash the weddingparty of Will's former girlfriend (played by Jena Malone, the youngversion of Jodie Foster in "Contact"), but it is a minor weakness in afilm that earns each and every one of the tears it asks its audience toshed. And for a movie in which death plays such a central role, "TheMessenger" still manages to affirm that emotional and psychologicalhealing, though a long and painful process, can actually be achieved inthe end.Without a doubt, one of 2009's best films.

DarthVoorhees

(2012-04-22 09:03:54)

The victorious dead...

"The Messenger" is a brilliant film which taps on the nerve of therecent Iraqi conflict. In some ways it has more power than the muchmore successful "Hurt Locker". What I admire about it is it's humanquality. I personally have a bad taste for military films. Conscious ornot they always have an agenda. Through out the history of the war filmwe have seen two extremes and nothing else. There is either a militaryfetish in war films or they despise war and everything about it. Thisisn't real and these approaches can't touch reality. "The Messenger"feels real and touches upon the human quality of life."The Messenger" touches upon brilliant commentary. Woody Harrelsongives a memorable performance as Captain Tony Stone. Stone has visitedthe houses of the victims of war to the point where it has become acold inhuman process. It's his 9 to 5 job. "There's no such thing as ahappy customer" he places in his lecture. Stone isn't a hero, neitheris his trainee Montgomery who was told he was by his higher ups. Arethe people coming home in boxes heroes? "The Messenger" isn't a filmabout achieving glory and heroism on the battlefield. It is about thelabels that come with a military uniform. Stone lives ashamed that henever got his baptism under fire and has made a living out ofdelivering the fates of more worthy men to their next of kin. He drinksto null the pain and his sense of unworthiness. In all honesty I don'tthink this film works if it is about any other war than our currentIraqi conflict. The rhetoric of the battle of good vs evil that theBush administration tried to use to create a war hungry conscious islost on these men. They don't see goodness in themselves. Both men feelunworthy and merely go through the motions of expressing what everfeelings they might have.The subplot involving Montgomery is brilliant. He falls for a war widowthat he delivered the news of her husband's death to. He doesn't seehimself as a hero and envies this woman's scenario. Her husband didn'tget to come home to a loving wife and his blue collar lifestyle.Montgomery the loner with no self purpose would give anything to puthimself in his shoes.

paul david

(2012-04-19 08:40:02)

American obsession with War trauma and Iraq but good movie

Maybe its me or I am just getting tired of all these movies coming outfocusing on Americas war involvement and the consequences of it. we hadthat tommy Lee Jones movie and his missing movie and in this Oscar runThe Hurt Locker (which is streets ahead of this movie in terms ofentertainment and quality).The acting is on a par but the story is not and I find the Tony Stonecharacter somewhat tiresome and tedious. Ben Foster acts extremely wellbut overall he is placid except for the little outburst at hisex-girlfriends engagement party.After the first couple of home visits, I feel the film runs out ofsteam and we are distracted by Ben Fosters surprise and curiousattraction to one of the widows to whom he has recently brought the badnews.I can see why Americans have nominated it for awards but the rest ofthe world will not be so interested, unlike Hurt Locker, which has amore objective message.Wont stay in the memory bank for long and Ben Foster will act betterand get a more challenging role I hope.

(2012-04-18 15:23:48)

It's an "Alright" movie

This review is from: The Messenger (DVD) I purchased this movie on an Amazon review. I had already seen, "Taking Chance" and that movie was incredibly touching. On the other hand "The Messenger" didn't even come close to it.

Cambridge Film Festival

(2012-04-14 16:24:43)

"The Messenger"

"We navigate", Capt. Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) instructs his newrecruit on the Casualty Notification Team, Sgt. Will Montgomery (BenFoster). But how does a shattered man begin to negotiate the grief ofstrangers, when he can barely fathom his own?Oren Moverman's penetrating debut employs bare-bones camera-work and asubdued colour palette, putting the focus on the dialogue. Co-writtenby Moverman, the script is by turns singularly intimate and universal,compounded by stirring lead performances. A decorated soldier returninghome from Iraq to convalesce from IED incurred shrapnel wounds, Willrealises that the final three months of his tour will be the hardest.With the strategic aim of being the first to deliver the news, the twomen come to rely on each other, eventually letting their emotionssurface in an intensely moving relationship.Stone is possessed of a wry, often unsavoury humour which assists inmasking his own insecurities and handling the job at hand with theintended clinical etiquette. Will struggles to maintain a similardetachment, seeking comfort in recently widowed Olivia (SamanthaMorton), who describes having lost her husband to a war which consumedhim with 'rage and fear'. This resonates in Will's search for purposeand connection, and deliverance from the memories that haunt him. Attimes the articulation of emotion is unbearably raw, yet Movermanleaves us to draw our own conclusions - more is said about thecasualties of war in Will's piercing, broken stare than in anyregurgitated army spiel. 5 out of 5Cambridge Film Festival Daily

Ed LONG

(2012-04-13 19:24:34)

OSCAR WORTHY..MUST SEE FOR AMERICA

I was totally not prepared for such a good movie.I had originally gone to ride along with a friend.. THis movie is a MUST SEE for the year. I believe half the audience in the theater broke down.., crying, at least several times during the movie.. It is very moving...and the 2 main actors did more than an excellent job in their performance... I see alot of movies.. ALmost everything that comes out weekly.. But this movie.. I will see again, and i am definitely going to purchase it on DVD when it comes out.YOU WILL BE SURPRISED! TRUST ME...SEEING THE MOVIE WILL BE WORTH WAY MORE THAN WHAT YOU PAID.

(2012-04-05 22:01:21)

Better than expected.

The Messenger starring Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster is a harrowing and realistic film about two war veterans who form an unlikely bond. Harrleson was nominated for an Oscar for this film, he's the kind of actor that really goes out on a limb with each performance. This is the first film I have seen with Ben Foster and wow what an amazing actor! His raw emotions and facial expressions are both profound and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed this film even though the subject matter is difficult to take here and there.

guythechef

(2012-04-05 14:44:20)

Welcome back, Woody.

Imagine this: You're an Iraq war veteran whose day job is to informfamily members of the death of their loved ones. Fortunately, you don'thave to think too hard about this one. Instead, Oren Moverman'semotional masterpiece The Messenger offers a fictional portrayal of menin uniform whose job is to heal other people's emotional wounds afterdealing with the death of a loved one, despite the fact thesedo-gooders have yet to figure out how to heal their own demons. ThisAcademy Award-nominated film features noteworthy names such as WoodyHarrelson and Steve Buscemi, among other rising stars you won't want tomiss. It's a breath of fresh air to see Woody Harrelson in a role suchas this one.

(2012-04-05 07:26:12)

Delivering bad news with dignity

Strong performances by Ben Foster, Samantha Morton and Woody Harrelson give this movie the nuance and poignancy that the subject deserves. It could have done with a more crisper edit. At places the gravity of the topic seemed to become a burden rather than an asset.

(2012-04-04 18:34:26)

Burnt it.

This review is from: The Messenger (DVD) I won't even watch a movie that has sexual scenes within the first 5 minutes and the language was so bad I shut it off and threw it in the trash barrel.I've watched a lot of R rated movies without getting as disgusted as this made me.

Film-Slave

(2012-04-04 06:41:22)

Unbelievably raw without being sensational or fake

Ben Foster is officially a man, not a college kid or winged teenagemutant.In THE MESSENGER he portrays a seriously wounded soldier who takes noconsolation in having saved the lives of his men or surviving. He muststill perform self-administered medical routines each day as a resultof his injuries, he doesn't make miraculous recovery and he can't just"forget." With three months left in his stint, he is assigned to anotification detail under the command of a jaded and harsh soldierplayed by Woody Harrelson. It is their job to tell people theirrelative has been killed in war.It is annoying that the angle of him overstepping bounds with a widow,because this has been done poorly in so many films. The fact that theybecome friends is far enough over the bounds for the soldier. This is abeautifully and sensitively handled situation that looks and soundsreal, not contrived.The responses from the people who are notified of their loss are toostriking to be fake. I'll need to read more on development of thisscript, but I encourage you who see this movie to be prepared: it istouching and gripping in its rawness.If you are the kind of film-goer who likes to be emotionally andcognitively challenged by film -- even if it's difficult -- this is amust-see.

(2012-04-03 12:47:33)

Terrific effort from Oren Moverman

The 2009 Oscars were all about "The Hurt Locker", devastating and heart-breaking. The war at home is alive with Moverman's "The Messenger", co-written with Alessandro Camon. The screenplay was Oscar nommed, as well as Woody Harrelson's fine performance. Sorely lacking was recognition for Ben Foster's central performance, which really kept things in perspective. Samantha Morton's performance was recognized by a few. This is a riveting account of some guys who are given an unpleasant job, notifying families of the death of a family member. Woody and Ben go about their rounds, and it's often hard to watch, and so well presented. It's a part of life, and life's not always pretty. This Indie film hits every nerve, and is one of the best I've watched in a long time, regarding war and resolve. The bottom line is that it's all about home, family, friendship ...and a lot more. AN AFTERTHOUGHT: "The Hurt Locker" and"The Messenger" were both powerful; the main difference I noticed was how the central characters dealt with the bombs that were being dropped.

(2012-04-01 01:54:54)

Timeless, powerful, deeply moving.

*** This review may contain spoilers *** The job of notifying next of kin by the Army Casualty Notification Unit is an extremely sensitive one. Such a job is not entrusted to just anyone in the military--you have to undergo significant training before you're assigned to such a specialized unit. That's why it's hard to believe that Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) would be thrust into the job when he only has three months of enlistment time left. What's more, would the Sergeant have been chosen since he's only recently come back from Iraq and may have been traumatized there? As for his training, his commanding officer, Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), merely throws a training manual in his lap and expects him to learn the job as they go along. To confess, I'm a bit biased against movies such as 'The Messenger' because I find characters who like themselves to be vastly more compelling and believable than those who don't. In general, characters who don't like themselves are dull and rarely add to the dramatic flow of the narrative (can you imagine a sad-sack Tony Soprano ever capturing the public's imagination?). The strategy of the Messenger's scenarists is to start us off with the two angst-ridden soldiers, Montgomery and Stone, and eventually show how they redeem themselves by overcoming their depressing background and circumstances. Montgomery is basically a putz who can't accept the fact that his former girlfriend has dumped him and is now engaged to someone else (how many sad-sack soldiers do you know who would actually show up at an ex-girlfriend's wedding intoxicated and wearing unwashed military fatigues?). The implication of course is that somehow, due to being traumatized in Iraq, he would end up acting that way. The contrived wedding scene is designed to show Montgomery at his lowest moment--after acting in such a boorish manner, he can now redeem himself by lending a helping hand to Olivia (Samantha Morton), the widow who he recently notified that her husband had been killed in action. Similarly, Captain Stone also has self-esteem issues. On the surface, his by-the-book demeanor masks a deep self-hatred. This is manifested in his constant skirt-chasing and avoidance of any meaningful relationships with women. The basic question arises: would the Military actually have put someone like Captain Stone in charge of an Army Casualty Notification Unit (i.e. someone so broken and negative?). I would suggest that such a negative character is a complete exaggeration anyway, designed merely to create dramatic scenarios where none would exist truly in reality. But even if such a character existed, he would probably be the last chosen by the military to head a Casualty Notification Unit. It takes a good deal of time before the central conflict comes to a head between Stone and Montgomery. And that is basically Montgomery believes in being a little more sensitive when notifying the next of kin as opposed to Stone who wants to follow 'procedures'. That's about the essence of the conflict between the two principals and when they finally confront each other, it's not much of a payoff. The sub-plot involves Montgomery trying to start things up with Olivia--his decision to not make the moves on her is designed to show that he's a 'good guy' after all and through his efforts to help her, shows that he's attained a measure of redemption. The Messenger also consists of various scenes in which the next of kin are notified of the deaths of their loved one's. Given the variety of the people we meet, it's probably the most interesting aspect of the film. Steve Buscemi's performance is probably the most notable (for better or worse) of these characters, where he strikes Montgomery after being notified about the death of his son, and later offers a rather predictable apology. I've read that the men and women who perform the job of the Casualty Notification Units are dedicated, trained professionals who by the nature of their employment, must set an example by living lives of great integrity (unlike the two troubled malcontents in 'The Messenger'). The contrived characters of 'The Messenger' do nothing to enhance the reputation of these specialized units; rather, their opposition feels artificial, contrived, all part of a plot artifice that calls for the type of conflict one might expect to see in the movies but never in real life. While I have no doubt, 'The Messenger' was meticulously researched as to how these Notification units operate, it still feels like it was written by an outsider. 'The Messenger' might have gotten many of its 'facts' right, but unfortunately I could not believe I was watching a story about real people.

(2012-03-31 07:03:17)

Boring

It is a 15 minute story stretched into 118 minutes of sheer boredom. So boring that I started skipping through the last half of the movie. Glad I streamed it instead of buying. Definitely goes into my "never again" list.

N B

(2012-03-27 18:14:23)

Powerful Film Experience

I was not disappointed by the performances in this film one bit. Woody Harrelson should likely get nominated as well as Ben Stiller for his supporting role.I thought the directing and screen writing to be excellent as well. Should not be missed.It is clearly anti-war, but far more in terms of human nature.

(2012-03-27 05:48:35)

Foster and Harrelson are outstanding, but the extra documentary Notification is the highlight here

4.2 starsWith a subject as emotionally loaded as this, it feels like the filmmakers almost just need to stay out of the way and let the inherent intensity come through. And when that's done here, the movie is excellent. Harrelson and Foster are both very good, and their relationship builds well; the last twenty minutes here are outstanding in many ways.But there are a few rather disjointed moments on the way there, which is unfortunate, as what's good here is very good. Foster's budding semi-romance, which is touted in the ads and on the blu-ray box, is tertiary to the story at best, it seemed, and never began to touch me in the way that some of the other scenes did. But I guess there's always got to be a love interest to get Hollywood to make a movie.It would have been nice if the film just focused on the terrible nature of the job, on both sides of the message. Those are the moments with serious power here and they are done well. If that and the two leads' bond were explored more in depth, I think this would have been one of the best movies I've seen in years. It's still very good, but I felt like it could have been even better. All the actors are solid, and the direction is good, but the script wanders here and there when it might have been more pointed and powerful. That's brought home strongly by the short documentary included on the blu-ray, called Notification. As good as this movie is, that doc hit me far harder. It's worth getting this disc for by itself; together with the movie, it's a very fine package. The BD transfer is excellent, btw, very crisp and clear.All in all, The Messenger is well worth watching, and its own various quiet messages are worth considering. It even fits in some subtle shots at the fact that perhaps there would be no need for any messengers at all if we'd keep out of the rest of the world's business. There are no doubt many childless parents out there who would be glad to get a chance to talk about that on film, but it seems unlikely we'll be seeing that movie any time soon. Nonethless, the scene here in the shopping mall is excellent, as is the perfect bit where Foster explains how he's no hero. Those two scenes add a much deeper resonance to this film, and let's face it: how can you talk about this subject without addressing the question of what these soldiers are dying for? Those two scenes are perhaps the touchstones of The Messenger, and meant to be pondered long after the film is over.And I almost forgot Woody's great little speech about how every soldier's funeral should be on tv. What a great idea, but of course, as with our not being allowed to even see coffins coming home from Iraq, we can't have people thinking too much about all that. At least this film is here to encourage Americans to consider the real cost of war to so many mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and children. It says everything about who controls what that the Hurt Locker won Best Picture while The Messneger was almost forgotten at the last Oscars. This is a much better movie, but its message is not exactly one that will make the Pentagon's budget bigger.Make sure to watch the documentary here; it's something very special. The Messenger is good, but Notification is even better.