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The messenger - Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Oren Moverman

Threat advisory: Guarded - General risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband's death, Will's emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival.

Theatrical propaganda posters

The messenger poster image The messenger poster image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

  • Film drama war death grief US Army Defense notification bonding soldier Iraq sex wife widow child combat

Persons of interest

  • Ben Foster .... Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery
  • Jena Malone .... Kelly
  • Eamonn Walker .... Colonel Stuart Dorsett
  • Woody Harrelson .... Captain Tony Stone
  • Yaya DaCosta .... Monica Washington
  • Portia .... Mrs Burrell
  • Lisa Joyce .... Emily
  • Steve Buscemi .... Dale Martin
  • Peter Francis James .... Dr Grosso
  • Samantha Morton .... Olivia Pitterson
  • Jahmir Duran-Abreau .... Matt Pitterson
  • Gaius Charles .... Recruiter Brown
  • Brendan Sexton III .... Recruiter Olson
  • Halley Feiffer .... Marla Cohen
  • Peter Friedman .... Mr Cohen
  • Lindsay Michelle Nader .... Claire
  • Merritt Wever .... Lara
  • J Salome Martinez .... Captain Garcia
  • Angel Caban .... Mr Vasquez
  • Kevin Hagan .... Mr Flanigan
  • Marceline Hugot .... Mrs Flanigan
  • Michael Chernus .... Alan
  • Alessandro Camon .... Screenwriter
  • Oren Moverman .... Screenwriter
  • Oren Moverman .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

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Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

The messenger is not a pleasant movie to watch, but that doesn't mean that you should avoid it. War is certainly hell and this movie is as close as civilians back home get to experience it. What's worse: being in a shit situation and about to die or loving someone in a shit situation who is about to die? Imminent death might be terrifying but death itself is over in a moment. Grief lasts forever but you're not the one who has to be dead. Sucks either way.

Stop loss is another film for young men returning from the war in Iraq (there don't seem to be any women returning from Iraq, and absolutely no-one has come back from Afghanistan) and the fact that they don't handle the real world very well. Still, the War of Terror has created a boom-time for young, male actors. It's an ill wind...

Oren Moverman has created a credible film but it doesn't quite get off the ground, despite all the acclaim (the stars shine brighter at night). It's never a good thing when the protagonist is not the most interesting character. Ben Foster tries hard but he just doesn't have the script to outdo Woody Harrelson. Young men are supposed to get messed up and make mistakes, but it's the older men who have to live with the consequences of those mistakes, and that makes them more interesting. Also, it doesn't hurt any if you like older men who can take their clothes off on-screen without looking silly.

The drama, war movie The messenger is directed by Oren Moverman and stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton.

Media intelligence (DVD)

  • Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0, 5.1
  • Languages: English
  • Special features:
    • Commentaries: Oren Moverman (Co-writer, director), Lawrence Inglee (Producer), Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson
    • Featurettes:
      • Going home - Reflections from the set
      • Notification - A documentary about the notification process
    • Interviews: Q&A with cast & crew
    • Trailers: Theatrical

Government security censorship classification

MA 15+ (Strong themes and sex scene)

Surveillance time

113 minutes (1:53 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 11 November 2010
Disc: 16 February 2011 - DVD

Cinema surveillance images

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