Review of The Messenger (2009) by Kjetil H — 10 Oct 2010

The Messenger is the story of a soldier who has recently arrived back War, decorated as a hero for saving the lives of his fellow soldiers in a Sniper ambush. Although he looks forward to taking some time out to consider his options after such a stressful time away, his commanding officer tells him that he's been assigned to work in a unit that informs recently deceased soldiers' Next of Kin of their death. This is something he neither wants to do or feels mentally capable or prepared for.

Whilst I didn't really connect with the concept of this film, I did, however, embrace the inner torture and complexity of the three leads in Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton. Astonishingly well acted, deftly directed and sensitively approached, The Messenger is encouraging to the extent that, low budget films that are not expected to make any money, are still being made in America and are made intelligently and with substance.