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See This Movie: "The Messenger"
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by Paulie Walnuts
“See This Movie” is Paulie Walnuts’ attempt to draw attention to otherwise lesser-known films that are worth the time of day. It is also an attempt to shine positive light on some well-known films that have poor reputations, or are generally regarded as busts. So jump on board, see the films, leave a comment or two, and let us know if you agree or disagree with Walnuts’ assessments.
“The Messenger” – starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi
Sometimes you watch a movie so good that it both surprises you and inspires self-reflection. “The Messenger” is one of these films.
Ben Foster plays Sergeant Will Montgomery, an injured United States soldier who is assigned to notify family members of their fallen loved ones. He is paired up with Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), an eccentric man who has extensive experience in the profession. Throughout the film, Stone teaches Montgomery how to respect the emotions of others, and how to perform his notifications with as few words as possible.
This is not your run-of-the-mill military film. It remains distant from the drama and action of war. Instead, it focuses on the emotional turmoil many soldiers endure as their friendships are threatened by battle and station. Sgt. Montgomery struggles with injury, loss, and a rocky relationship, and his new assignment ties everything together and forces him to view his own life in a new light. “We walk into these people’s lives,” he says. “And we don’t know shit.”
“Trust me,” Stone answers. “You don’t wanna know.”
Stone, in an interesting twist of irony, preaches constantly about respecting the emotions of the mourners, yet hides from his own emotions by avoiding human contact and giving in to his addictions. Harrelson is brilliant throughout, both comedic and tragic, his character somehow both attached and removed from his occupation.
Steve Buscemi, as Dale Martin, gives a very short yet incredibly powerful performance as the father of a fallen soldier. “Look at that tree,” he says after Montgomery breaks the news to him, to which the young soldier is unresponsive. “I said look at that fucking tree,” Martin insists angrily. “It’s the same age as my son.” It’s a heart-wrenching scene as the tree, a universal symbol of life, suddenly becomes a lasting symbol of loss and pain for Martin.
Samantha Morton plays Olivia Pitterson, a young, homely wife of a soldier killed in action. She responds to the news in an entirely different way than Martin, seemingly free of grief and bitterness. It seems as if she has always expected the worst, and almost appears relieved when the news is passed on. Neither Montgomery nor Stone quite know how to react to her curious response.
By this time, Montgomery’s guilt has grown unbearable, and he begins to regularly check in on Olivia and her young child. This causes friction with Captain Stone, although it is somewhat evident that somewhere locked beneath the façade of his anger, Stone silently approves of the Montgomery’s visits.
It’s been a while since I watched a film that captures human emotion as precisely as “The Messenger.” The notification scenes are performed flawlessly and truly give a sense of what the real thing must be like. The acting is phenomenal with very few weak points.
This is a film about learning to face grief head-on. It is a film about acceptance and overcoming denial. All of the characters are thoroughly presented and in need of something. The movie impeccably portrays the processes of their journeys and the resolutions are both realistic and satisfying.
My rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
~Walnuts
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