The Messenger

With The Messenger, first-time director Oren Moverman has crafted a film that goes beyond the narrative of the traditional war movie. Rather than focusing on fighting or even the politics of the fiercely debated war in Iraq, this script centers on grief, recovery, and relationships. Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) gives a raw, real performance as Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery, a soldier who was injured in Iraq. With a few months left in his tour of duty, Will is assigned to work under Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson, No Country for Old Men). Stone is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and a member of the army's Casualty Notification division. Tog...