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“The
Messenger” shows scenes to moviegoers that the U.S. government would
rather we not see—like flag-draped coffins—scenes that are enacted
throughout the country, in tree-shaded suburbs with American flags hung
from porch railings and fences, yellow ribbons tied around trees. Two
soldiers in full dress and snappy berets approach a home, knock on the
front door, and when it opens deliver heartbreaking news to the
designated next-of-kin: “The Secretary of Defense wishes to inform you
…” The rest of the sentence is drowned out by cries of disbelief and
rage, which devolve into anguished sobs.
Ben
Foster plays Will Montgomery, a recovered, wounded soldier with only a
few months left of his third deployment to Iraq. He’s been assigned to
partner with veteran messenger Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), who was in
Desert Storm, to bring bad news to good people.
The
next-of-kin already suffer, losing their loved ones to Iraq and Afghanistan and worrying constantly
about their wellbeing. Israeli army veteran Oren Moverman
directs his film with such skill that the viewer feels he or she is
right behind the men on the doorstep, accompanying them into their
hallways or front rooms. We witness their agony and heartbreak, and
suffer with them. It feels voyeuristic.
Harrelson’s
character lives up to his name—Stone; he’s been at this too long.
He runs down a list of “don’ts” right off the bat for Montgomery: Don’t touch the
person, no hugs, no hand-holding, no pat on
the shoulder; stick to the script. No “Good morning or afternoon,” he
says, “There’s nothing good about it.”
Moverman, together with co-writer Alessandro Camon, an Italian, create a balance in the film by
getting into the messengers’ lives when they’re off duty. Montgomery is sensitive, we see it in
his eyes and demeanor, yet he harbors rage. He loses control in
private—plays loud music, shouts, and punches walls. Stone is a
flat-out womanizer, such as he can’t remember names and doesn’t want
to. He’s allegedly on the wagon, but after one rough reaction to their
message, drinks with Will at a bar. Thankfully, no big deal is made of
this. He just does what he does.
“The
Messenger” takes no political stance, but presents an honest portrayal
of one more reason to end all wars.
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