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Synopsis

While on a recent deployment to Iraq, US Army Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery is injured when an improvised explosive device goes off within close proximity to him. He is back in the States recovering from the more serious of those injuries, including one to his eye and leg. He has resumed a sexual relationship with his long time girlfriend Kelly, despite the fact that she is now engaged to another man who Will knows. With the few months Will has left in his enlistment, the army assigns him to the Casualty Notification Team in his area. Not having a background in counseling, psychology or grief management, he is unsure if he is well suited to this job. He is partnered with a career soldier, Captain Tony Stone, who teaches Will the precise protocol involved in the job. Tony tells Will, who quickly learns by on the job experience, that this job has its own dangers. As Will learns to adapt to the range of emotions of the next of kin, he is unprepared for the reaction of Olivia Pitterson, whose husband was killed in Iraq. His initial encounter with Olivia leads to him wanting to get to know her better, which may not be in either her or his best interest. Despite being a recovering alcoholic, the more experienced Tony tries to guide Will as best he can under their collective circumstances. –IMDb

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Kirby

22Nov11

Great job by Harrelson. And that's about it. It was a bit on the boring side.

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sami

29Sep11

For the actors: Foster and Harrelson as members of the “Angels of Death Squadron” (i.e. Casualty Notification Officers who break the sad news to the families of the soldiers recently killed in action), and Samantha Morton as one of the widows Foster visits (and — surprise surprise — falls for).

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Daniel McCarthy

4Apr11

Glad to see this is FINALLY getting a UK release this May. Honestly though, distribution where I live sucks.

doltcrow

7Mar11

A good anti-war film.

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The Messenger DVD review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) has been excused from the throes of the battlefield after a non-lethal injury, but still needs to serve his time in the Army. He is assigned to the CNT (casualty
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The Messenger

By asuraf on June 19, 2010
Pitch perfect acting and a difficult, wordy screenplay distinguish this war themed indy from last year, about the ways in which war and tragedy affect human communication. After suffering a devastating…

Film review: The Messenger

By Miasma on May 18, 2010

Ben Foster plays a soldier back from the Middle East – a very strong, very silent type, Foster’s apparent preference: quiet, smoldering intensity. Foster kicks ass. With three months…  read review

The Messenger

By Marq on January 9, 2010

A very good film, with several moving scenes and performances.
It’s like the cast was made to guarantee my enjoyment. Ben Foster’s intensity has never been better; Harrelson adds to a great comeback…  read review

No such thing as a satisfied customer … The Messenger

By jaredmo​barak on December 19, 2009

Most times I feel that the story of a soldier’s return home is more interesting than anything that might have happened while overseas in battle. I think it has a lot to do with my enjoyment in a good…  read review

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