The Messenger - **** out of ****

"The Messenger" is a film that could have been a really obnoxious tearjerker, but instead we have a very human story with absorbing performances. All of this is highlighted by writer/director Oren Moverman (this is first directorial feature but fifth screenplay by the Israili Army veteran) and co-writer Alessando Camon (second writing credit).

The movie shows Staff Sargent Will Montgomery (Ben Foster in his breakthrough role) who has only three months left in his time in the Army. He receives word that his new assignment will entail working with Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson, rightfully Oscar-nominated here) to alert the Next of Kin that their child, spouse, or sibling was killed in the war. Montgomery never likes this job, but what he discovers he is doing is a vital service of the utmost respect, although the grief-stricken do not always initially see it this way. "There are no satisfied customers," Stone tells Montgomery.

The Staff Sargent is called "a goddamned hero," so since he only has three months left and is experiencing injuries in his leg and eye (as well as the possibility of PTSD), the Army decides to give him an assignment where he won't be killed. They could have put him behind a desk, but he can still walk. He doesn't exactly have social skills any more (not in the way that you see in oh-so-many romantic comedies), and you can see this with the way he handles his first notifications. No, he doesn't say anything damaging or really screw up, but by the expression on his face and several subtle actions you see that he is wounded in more ways than one.

Montgomery has a girl, but if Will had a facebook account (or a computer for that matter), their relationship status would read "It's Complicated with...". Stone has been married three times, twice to the same woman, and all he wants in life is to get laid. Montgomery isn't quite looking for the opposite, but in this time in his life, he could use a friend. No, it's not as cliche or eye-rolling as it sounds. It's never actually stated that he needs a friend, but he never has anyone, male or female, over to his place.

This begins to change when he must notify Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Montgomery, absolutely perfect) of the death of her husband. She has a very unusual reaction to the news. Stone has his own take on what caused the reaction, but Montgomery isn't sold. He inadvertently steps into her life, breaking a rule of the messengers (do not fraternize with the NoK, or Next of Kin). What happens isn't exactly what you'd expect- the movie's too good for that. Instead, we are given something of a gift that is only subtly heartbreaking but enormously hopeful.

Things aren't resolved, catharsis isn't exploited, and we aren't left with a pretty little package, but I couldn't have been more satisfied. This isn't a movie about a war but about the people in it. It doesn't have an Aesop message tied to it, but there is much to learn from this occasionally funny and yet beautifully subdued film.

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.
Buy it here.