The Messenger (2009 film)

For other senses of this term, see The Messenger (Markus Zusak novel)
The Messenger

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Oren Moverman
Produced by Mark Gordon
Lawrence Inglee
Zach Miller
Written by Alessandro Camon
Oren Moverman
Starring Ben Foster
Woody Harrelson
Samantha Morton
Jena Malone
Music by Nathan Larson
Cinematography Bobby Bukowski
Edited by Alexander Hall
Distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories
Release dates
  • November 13, 2009 (2009-11-13)
Running time
 113 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6.5 million[1]
Box office $1,521,261[1]

The Messenger is a 2009 war drama film starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, and Jena Malone. It is the directorial debut of Oren Moverman, who also wrote the screenplay with Alessandro Camon.

The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was in competition at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and the Berlinale Peace Film Award '09.[2] The film received first prize for the 2009 Deauville American Film Festival. The film has also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations (including one win), a Golden Globe nomination, and two Academy Award nominations.

Plot

Will Montgomery (Ben Foster), a lone rebellious U.S. Army staff sergeant and declared war hero, has returned home from Iraq, and since he served enough war time, he is assigned as a casualty notification officer. Montgomery is partnered with a strict recovering alcoholic, Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton), now a single mother, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.[3]

Cast

Production

The Messenger marked the directorial debut of Israeli screenwriter and former journalist Oren Moverman. Though Sydney Pollack, Roger Michell, and Ben Affleck were all attached to direct the movie at various times, when those talks fell through, the producers eventually asked Moverman to helm the project.[4] The filmmakers worked closely with the United States Army and the Walter Reed Medical Center to conduct research on military life, and were specifically advised by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sinor as a technical consultant.[5]

Reception

In North America, The Messenger opened in limited release in 4 theaters and grossed $44,523 for an average of $11,131 per theater ranking 46th at the box office. The film went on to earn $1,109,660 domestically and $411,601 internationally for a total of $1,521,261, below its budget of $6.5 million.[6]

Though not a box office success, the film was praised by critics and has a 90% 'Certified Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 155 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5 out of 10. The critical consensus states " A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/director Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson [sic] and Ben Foster."[7] The film also currently holds a score of 77 on Metacritic based on 27 reviews.[8] Harrelson's performance was subject to considerable praise, leading to Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor.[9]

Top ten lists

The Messenger received strong positive reviews from critics and appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2009.[10]

Awards and Nominations

Year Ceremony Category Recipients Result
2009 14th Satellite Awards Best Drama Film The Messenger Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
15th Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Nominated
16th Screen Actors Guild Awards Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role Woody Harrelson Nominated
25th Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature The Messenger Nominated
Best Supporting Male Woody Harrelson Won
Best Supporting Female Samantha Morton Nominated
Best Screenplay Alessandro Camon
Oren Moverman		 Nominated
36th Saturn Awards Best Action / Adventure / Thriller Film The Messenger Nominated
59th Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear - Best Film The Messenger Nominated
Silver Bear - Best Screenplay Alessandro Camon
Oren Moverman		 Won
67th Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
82nd Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Alessandro Camon
Oren Moverman		 Nominated
2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Deauville American Film Festival Grand Prix The Messenger Won
Denver Film Critics Society Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards 2009 Breakthrough Performer Ben Foster Nominated
Houston Film Critics Society Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Nominated
National Board of Review Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Won
Best Directorial Debut Oren Moverman Won
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2009 Best Actor Ben Foster Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Won
Best Original Screenplay Alessandro Camon
Oren Moverman		 Nominated
Best Ensemble Performance Acting Ensemble Nominated
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards 2009 Best Director Oren Moverman Nominated
Best Actor Ben Foster Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2009 Best Supporting Actor Woody Harrelson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Samantha Morton Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 The Messenger (2009). Box Office Mojo (2010-05-13). Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
  2. ↑ Todd McCarthy (2008-12-04). "More star power at Sundance". Variety. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
  3. ↑ The Messenger full synopsis at contentfilm.com
  4. ↑ Metro – An intimate look at grief found in the heart of war. Metronews.ca. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
  5. ↑ Interview: The Messenger's Oren Moverman. Ioncinema.Com (2009-11-11). Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
  6. ↑ "The Messenger (2009) - Box Office Mojo".
  7. ↑ "The Messenger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  8. ↑ "The Messenger". MetaCritic. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  9. ↑ Golden Globes Nominations Are Revealed. Empireonline.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Metacritic: 2009 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
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