I went into the The Messenger expecting to see just another war movie. What I got was a grim, emotional look at a side of war people haven't seen presented onscreen before.

The Messenger tells the story of Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) -- an American soldier who is placed on a "casualty notification team" after being sent home due to an injury. He heads out with Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) and together they notify loved ones of the death of their husbands, wives, daughters, and sons. They have a script and a strict set of rules they need to follow (such as no crying or touching during a notification) which doesn't always work. In one scene an upset father (played by Steve Buscemi) gets violent and abusive towards them and asks them why they aren't over there, why they're not dead. They can't do or say anything back and just walk away even more broken than they were in the first place.

It's heavy material that is far from a typical war movie. There are no bombs going off, guns being shot, or people in trenches hiding from the enemy. The Messenger focuses heavily on the demons Montgomery and Stone face from the memories of their time serving, and the strong performances by Foster and Harrelson give it such a raw emotion you forget they are acting. Foster is especially shattering to watch and it shocks me that the Oscars chose to honour Harrelson over him with a Best Actor nomination. While Harrelson is great it's Foster who carries the entire film and rips your heart out.

There's also a subplot involving a relationship Montgomery starts with Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton) -- a woman he notified of her husband's death. As one of the only females in the film Morton does an excellent job and shows the effects of losing someone under these circumstances in such a haunting way it will stay with you long after the film ends.

Director Oren Moverman has proven himself as a writer with films such as Married Life and I'm Not There and it's no surprise he's moved into the director's chair with ease. He allows the material to unfold without forcing it and delivers his anti-war message without preaching it. He's got a great vision and voice and is sure to keep impressing audiences for years to come.

Since The Messenger has hardly been marketed it will be probably be gone from the theatres by next weekend. If you want to see one of the greatest contemporary dramas in recent memory do yourself a favour and see it as soon as you can.

**** out of 5 stars

Rated R
Cast: Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton
Directed by: Oren Moverman
Official Site IMDb

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

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Top image: A scene from The Messenger. Courtesy Alliance Films.