The Messenger (Exclusive Series) (Tubi/Peacock)
- Matt Palmer
- Nov 13, 2022
- 2 min read
Initial release date: November 13, 2009
Studio: Oscilloscope (a small studio)
Plot: After being injured in Iraq, soldier Will Montgomery returns home to finish the rest of his tour of duty in the Army's Casualty Notification service. Teamed up with veteran officer Tony Stone, Will tries to come to terms with his own pain while dealing with the cold realities of his new mission. Will finds himself in the grip of an ethical problem when he becomes involved with Olivia, the widow of a fallen soldier.
Cast
Ben Foster - Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery
Woody Harrelson - Captain Tony Stone
Jena Malone - Kelly
Eamonn Walker - Col. Stuart Dorsett
Yaya Da Costa - Monica Washington
Portia - Mrs. Burrell
Lisa Joyce - Emily
Steve Buscemi - Dale Martin
Peter Francis James - Dr. Grosso
Samantha Morton - Olivia Pitterson
Writer(s): Alessandro Camon (Bullet to the Head)
Oren Moverman (The Quiet Ones)
Director: Oren Moverman (Rampart)
Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity (113 minutes)
The 2009 indie film 'The Messenger' is a character-driven, thought-provoking feature film that is worth watching.
The film explores the topics of grief and loss, and loneliness after returning from a tour of duty. It also features some gut-wrenching moments that can be hard to watch, especially when you see the main leads performing their duties of telling family members the most devastating news imaginable.
The performances from both lead actors Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster are incredible, and the moment where Harrelson's character (who is shown to be tough throughout the film) breaks down at the end is really powerful.
Sure, 'The Messenger' can be a little slow moving at times. But, this harrowing drama is an emotional hidden gem that should be checked out!
'The Messenger' can be streamed via Tubi and Peacock.
Here are a few interesting little tidbits for 'The Messenger':
The scene where Will and Olivia speak to each other in the 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.
Sgt. Brian Scott, who was training to deploy to Iraq out of Fort Dix, New Jersey, and was a Technical Advisor on this film, was subsequently injured in an IED attack in Baghdad.
'The Messenger' marked the directorial debut of Israeli screenwriter and former journalist Oren Moverman.
The filmmakers worked closely with the US Army and the Walter Reed Medical Center to conduct research on military life, and were specifically advised by Lt. Col. Paul Sinor, as a technical consultant.
The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival before receiving a limited release in North America in 4 theaters. It grossed $44,523 in the opening weekend and went on to earn $1.1 million domestically.
Harrelson's performance was subject to considerable praise, leading to Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
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