The Messenger

2009
R
1h 53m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

37K

YOUR RATING

Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in The Messenger (2009)

A soldier (Foster) struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer (Morton).

Play trailer2:22

3 Videos

27 Photos

Dark Comedy Drama Romance War

An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.

Director
- Oren Moverman
Writers
- Alessandro Camon
- Oren Moverman
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

37K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Oren Moverman
Writers
- Alessandro Camon
- Oren Moverman
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 17 wins & 47 nominations total

Videos3

Trailer 2:22

The Messenger: Awards Trailer

Photos27

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The scene where Will (Ben Foster) and Olivia (Samantha Morton) speak to each other in her kitchen is eight minutes long and was shot in one take. Co-writer and director Oren Moverman allowed actors and actresses to improvise in certain scenes.

Goofs
Several times throughout the movie, Captain Stone notifies next of kin of deceased soldiers without first getting positive confirmation that they are, in fact, the soldier's next of kin. Casualty Notification Officers are required to make sure that the person they are addressing is actually the next of kin before making notification. This is not a mistake that a professional like Captain Stone would make.

Quotes
Captain Tony Stone: [walking to deliver the news to a wife that her husband has died] It could be worse. It could be Christmas.

Alternate versions
There are two versions available. Runtimes are "1h 53m (113 min)" and "1h 45m (105 min) (Berlin International) (Germany)".

Connections
Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Zombieland/A Serious Man/Whip It (2009)

Soundtracks
Put Your Hands Up
Performed by Plive (as P-Live)
Written by Christian Salyer, Isaiah Perkins
Published by Engine Co. 30/4tian Music/Engine Co. 35/4tian2 Music
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User reviews112

Review

Featured review

8/10

'The Messenger' is powerful and engaging film.

Brilliantly acted film depicting two soldiers whose job it is to inform families when loved ones are killed in battle. Harrelson has never been better and Foster more than matches him all the way. It's emotional and engaging and genuinely painful at times. I had always thought how hard it must be to carry out such a job but had never really considered just what psychologically damage it could do long term to the person doing it. Harrelson depicts a man who has been doing the job far too long brilliantly and Foster in turn shows just what it can do to you initially. It's a perfect blend and the chemistry is excellent from start to finish. Deserves a much wider release and is with out doubt one of the best films of last year.