Because of the nature of its subject matter, 'The Messenger' is emotionally charged, but director Oren Moverman and his able cast prevent it from feeling phony or manipulative.
Comment
11/27/09
The Messenger (2009)
90
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:60
Fresh:54
Rotten:6
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster.
Synopsis: Co-written by Oren Moverman and Alessandro Camon, THE MESSENGER is a powerful and tender story about a returned war hero making his first steps toward a normal life. In his first leading role,... [More]
Starring: Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone
Director: Oren Moverman
Reviews for The Messenger
Foster and Harrelson have a winning camaraderie as they develop a bond of trust and friendship. Both performances are memorable and deserve year-end awards consideration.
11/26/09
The beauty in Foster's portrayal is that it never completely explodes, but anger and aching seethe behind his eyes. Harrelson, meanwhile, is a good old boy with a bad old job.
11/25/09
Whenever writer-director Oren Moverman moves past these scattered and admittedly voyeuristic moments into the lives of the two soldiers, the movie drifts into received wisdom and unconvincing romance.
11/25/09
This film doesn't take political sides -- and it's all the more heartbreaking because of its restraint.
11/24/09
Individually, none of the mini-dramas in The Messenger would be enough to blow you away. But grouped together, they're so beautifully and specifically written that they make for a convincing picture of the first stages of grief.
11/24/09
This is a wholly different look at the fallout of the Iraq War and its effect on soldiers and civilians. It is also a gentle portrait of grief, friendship and solace.
11/24/09
Top CriticA forcefully acted and peculiar emotional drama...
11/24/09
The Messenger delivers what it has to say without sensationalism or political posturing. That restraint, along with the quality of the performances, makes it all the more powerful.
11/24/09
There is a complexity to the story and characters that I want more insight on and I really believe that the movie might grow on me with a repeat viewing.
11/22/09
Foster leaves you hoping that Will finds his way home.
11/20/09
Top CriticIt brings home the horror of the Iraq war in a way that much of our TV news media have failed to do.
11/20/09
One of the rare movies that communicates honestly and artfully about the real casualties of war: the surviving combatants.
11/20/09
A stunning debut, an effective, expertly-made and performed drama about the common human ability to deal with tragedy and loss in unique, unpredictable ways.
11/20/09
Don't call it a comeback because Woody Harrelson never went away! This film that will remind everyone how good of an actor he is.
11/20/09
Some jobs are dirtier than others, and after seeing director and co-writer Oren Moverman’s beautifully acted new film The Messenger, you’ll be better acquainted with some of the most grueling work a human being can be called upon to perform.
11/20/09
The Messenger is a privileged glimpse into people's private pain, a drama shot with the simplicity and immediacy of a documentary.
11/19/09
This is a poignant war movie, but it's also a buddy movie with a difference, one that's both funny and bleak.
11/19/09
The scenes are rendered by director Oren Moverman with an authenticity and realism that makes them as harrowing and heartrending as they deserve to be.
11/19/09
One of the most powerful and moving films about the human cost of the Afghan-Iraq war and about those of war in general to appear in years.
11/19/09
Latest News for The Messenger
November 12, 2009:
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October 25, 2009:
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