Review of The Messenger (2009) by Lynn C — 09 Jun 2010

Wow. Even though this isn't a battlefield film there are some incredibly moving and poignant scenes. As a newly assigned member of the Army's Casualty Notification service, Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) has to transition from being wounded soldier to being the bearer of the most grave news a service member's family will ever hear--a fate that Montgomery barely escaped himself.

It is a difficult transition, to say the least, for Montgomery played by Ben Foster (who I've never particularly been a fan of) does a masterful job of portraying the character and conveying the "reality" of his experiences in this aspect of wartime that is not often touched on.

There is great balance in the grimness and tenacity of this film--a must watch in my humble opinion. I appreciate this film because it focuses attention on an aspect of wartime that we should always include in our perception of war, its consequences, and the ugliness that accompanies the great sacrifice that servicemen and women make and the lives they directly affect.