Review of The Messenger (2009) by Donna B — 31 May 2010
"The Messenger" will probably be one of the hardest film to watch for many people. It deals with the hard part of war, which is informing those who have lost loved ones overseas the bad news.
Ben Foster plays a man injured overseas who is assigned to end his duties along side Woody Harrelson to deliver people the news. Foster's character is a scarred war hero who develops a relationship with a widower, and Harrelson plays a stirct but looney individual.
The depth of the film is shown in its performances, as this is a heavily weighted character study. The film can get a little strange at times, especially time spent with Foster and widower Samantha Morton.
Harrelson is the film's shinging light, though. His performance is one of true sorrow. He has never experienced any war of his own (not counting Desert Storm), but still feels if as he has the scars to show and reasons to act ludely.
Foster is one who has the scars to prove the fact he has been to Hell and back, but choses to keep it under wraps. The scenes between the two leads are explosive, but when the two are not with each other, things can get a little too mundane for their own good.
Harrelson deserved the Oscar nod he recieved. Overall, this film delivers in the area of great performances by Foster and Harrelson, but loses its fizz in some scenes.
This review of The Messenger (2009) was written by Donna B on 31 May 2010.
The Messenger has generally received positive reviews.
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