The Messenger (2009)

This powerful drama about two officers who notify next of kin about Army casualties moves between day-to-day life and gut-wrenching grief and back again. As of today it has 7 wins and 16 nominations and we expect more.

It's the directorial debut for Israeli combat veteran Oren Moverman, who was co-writer (with the directors) of the quirky Bob Dylan homage I'm Not There (2007) and quirky dark 1940's tale Married Life (2007). Moverman shares a writing credit here with second-time writer Alessandro Camon (executive producer of respected indies The Cooler (2003), Thank You for Smoking (2005), Driving Lessons (2006), and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans).

I've been a Ben Foster fan since he played a funny rebellious 1954 Jewish teen in the fabulous Liberty Heights (1999), then, in a recurring role in HBO's Six Feet Under, his character was a little crazy, and he played all-out evil lunatics in Alpha Dog (2006) and 3:10 to Yuma (2007). Here, as the wounded-in-combat Sergent Montgomery, he's intense, but his back story explains it all and we really care about him as he shows deep emotions without saying a word. Montgomery brings his bad news to people's doors with Captain Stone, who has never seen combat, perfectly portrayed by Woody Harrelson (some of my favorites are Natural Born Killers (1994), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Wag the Dog (1997), Edtv (1999), Zombieland, and a cameo in 2012, proving he can do nuts with the best of 'em). Samantha Morton (Oscar-nominated as the mute in Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and as the mom in In America (2002), also great in Enduring Love (2004)) is earthy and real as the widow to whom Montgomery is drawn. All three have been recognized for their performances. Jena Malone (she was 14 in Stepmom (1998), and was in, among others, Life as a House (2001), The United States of Leland (2003), and Into the Wild (2007), all wonderful) has never looked lovelier as one of the many complications in Montgomery's life.

The expression "don't kill the messenger," was written by Sophocles for Oedipus Rex (442 B.C.) and used later by Shakespeare in Henry IV, Part II (1598) and in Antony and Cleopatra (1606-07).

A lot of songs, heavy metal and others, are featured and you can read the list, as well as some history of the making of the movie, in the press kit (no spoilers). It tells us that the role of Colonel Dorset was bigger in the script. It doesn't tell us that the actor who plays the Colonel, Eamonn Walker, was fantastic as Howlin' Wolf in Cadillac Records. Not for kids, The Messenger has nudity, profanity, and death, but also hope. Imdb tells us that a Fort Dix sergeant, Brian Scott, who was a consultant on this movie, was later injured by an IED in Iraq. I couldn't find word of his current condition. The film was shot entirely in New Jersey, including at Fort Dix. Prepare yourself, and then see it. You won't be sorry.