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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

To receive news that a loved one has died in military combat would be a painful and tragic experience. The impact it has on a pair of soldiers who have to relay such news on a near-daily basis is depicted with unwavering brilliance in the military drama The Messenger, one of 2009's best films.

Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) has recently returned to active duty after sufficiently recovering from wounds he received from an IED explosion in Iraq. With a few months left on his enlistment, Montgomery is assigned to hard-nosed Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson). As a two-man detail, their mission is to inform next of kin that their loved one has been killed in combat.

Initially, Montgomery, whom the Army calls a hero, is bitter about his assignment. Stone doesn't want to hear it and continually reminds him that it's their solemn duty to contact next of kin before anyone else. Eventually, Montgomery and Stone, who both have drinking problems and insomnia, clash over not showing emotion and avoiding physical contact during missions.

When they inform Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton) that her husband is dead, they are struck by her concern for them. Still pained by the rejection of a longtime girlfriend (Jena Malone), Montgomery becomes attracted to Pitterson. Both are wounded souls, but as she puts it, people will think he's a low life who's taking advantage of a widow and that she is a slut for letting it happen.

Director/co-writer Oren Moverman smartly avoided using just a pair of perfunctory scenes to establish what the two soldiers do. While the story branches out to explore what war has done to them, their sometimes turbulent relationship, and Montgomery's attraction for a new widow, The Messenger keeps reminding us of their heavy burden. Each riveting scene is uniquely different, although the same terrible sense of loss is present throughout. (One notable scene involves Steve Buscemi as a father who spits in Montgomery's face and accuses him of being a coward.)

This is truly a breakout performance for Foster whose career has included roles on TV's Six Feet Under and The Dead Zone, and small movie roles in 3:10 to Yuma and X-Men: The Last Stand. His character undergoes a transformational journey that Foster captures with all the deftness of a multiple Oscar winner. He also shares wonderful chemistry with two-time Academy Award nominee Morton (Sweet and Low Down, In America) whose soft spoken approach to her character is deeply moving.

Lastly, there is Harrelson. His powerful, emotional performance is reminiscent of the unexpected magnificence of Mickey Rourke in 2008's The Wrestler. Harrelson gives his character grit but also brings out a sense of how truly pained he is and how he feels almost cheated that he didn't receive his own baptism by fire. Much like John Wayne's Ethan Edwards character in The Searchers, you are left wondering if he can ever go home again. It's the best work of Harrelson's career.

On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, The Messenger receives an A+.
    
The Messenger is rated R and has a running time of 112 minutes.

Now showing through December 10 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for showtimes

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.