Ben Foster portrays Will Montgomery, an Army officer just returned from Iraq. He is partnered with Tony Stone played by Woody Harrelson.  Their assigned mission as part of the Army's Casualty Notification Office is to inform next of kin that their loved one perished in the line of duty.  Will bears the scars of his service on his face and in his soul as he questions his designation as a war hero. As he finds himself drawn to a widow (Olivia played by Samantha Morton) to whom he has just delivered news of her husband’s death, conflict erupts between Will and Tony over Will’s loss of professional detachment.  What follows is an emotionally wrenching story as each character lays bare the human cost of war.

There are two exceptional scenes in the film which showcase the impressive acting chops of Foster and Morton.

The first takes place in the kitchen of Olivia’s home as she and Will struggle with their attraction to each other and the associated moral implications.  Morton carries the scene with an incredibly realistic portrayal of grief, regret, and longing. It is one of those extraordinary moments in film where, for a few moments, you forget you are in a theater and feel as if you are in the room with the character who is no longer a character but a person you know and care for.  Morton delivers a precisely measured performance in a role that might have been overdone in the hands of a lesser actress.

The second outstanding scene centers on Will’s recounting of his combat experience to Tony.  Foster balances the perfect amount of torment, anger, and sorrow as he outlines the gruesome details of his tour of duty.  He displays a similar and equally satisfying level of restraint as Morton while delivering lines ripe for exaggeration. Foster’s performance here acts as the string that ties together the small pieces of dramatic tension he previously constructed in the film.

The Messenger’s strength is its focus on the unseen cost of war; the harsh reality of life for the families of those who paid the ultimate price.  It is a reality not often depicted as confirmed by the appreciative words of the local soldiers in attendance.  This is a simple story about human beings dealing with loss, anger, confusion, and the hope of renewal rendered in a thoughtful and moving way.

In the audience Q&A session following the screening, Director Oren Moverman stated that The Messenger does not have a big studio push behind it so it must rely on strong word-of-mouth for its success. Here is my contribution to that effort:  Go see this film.