[5.50/10] The Messenger (2009)

The Messenger (2009)

"The Messenger" is about a soldier deployed from the front line to becoming the messenger of bad news, telling families that their loved ones are killed in combat. Тhe screenplay effectively and interestingly mines all possible areas of personal conflict regarding the war situation at home. "The Messenger" also consists of various scenes in which the next of kin are notified of the deaths of their loved one's. Given the variety of the people we meet, it's probably the most interesting aspect of the film. I'm going out on a limb to comment that there was a problem in the direction by newcomer Oren Moverman. The treatment was too turgid and slow. Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster, while very good in internalizing their roles, had that creepy vibe that makes empathizing with them difficult for the audience. While maybe that is what the director aims to achieve, this undignified portrayal of Will and Stone as private individuals detracts from my appreciation of this film as a whole. "The Messenger" promises to give us the real deal on grieving families and soldiers returning home, but in its overwritten, overstylized way, it's really only about one thing: the audience member's susceptibility to shameless emotional manipulation.

• My Rating: 5.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (7.5/10)
• IMDb: 7.5/10