The Messenger (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
The Messenger is a 2009 war drama film starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson
, Steve Buscemi
, Jena Malone
, and Samantha Morton
. 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 Berlin International Film Festival
2009 where it won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and the Berlinale Peace Film Award '09. 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.
and declared war hero, has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification
service. Montgomery is partnered with a strict recovering alcoholic, Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson
), to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers and spend time with him off protocol. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton
), now a single mother, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.
. 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. 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.
based on 151 reviews. The film also currently holds a 76% 'Generally favorable reviews' rating on MetaCritic based on 27 reviews.
Harrelson's performance was critically praised, leading to Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor
.
Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
, Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi
Steven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi is an American actor, writer and film director. An associate member of the renowned experimental theater company The Wooster Group, Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films including New York Stories, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs,...
, Jena Malone
Jena Malone
Jena Malone is an American actress and musician who has appeared on television, in films, and on Broadway. She made her movie debut with the film Bastard Out of Carolina , and has appeared in films including Contact , Stepmom , Donnie Darko , Saved! , Into the Wild , and Sucker Punch .Malone is...
, and Samantha Morton
Samantha Morton
Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
. It is the directorial debut of Oren Moverman
Oren Moverman
Oren Moverman is an Israeli filmmaker, screenwriter, and former journalist based in New York City.Moverman was the screenwriter and associate producer of Jesus' Son, a 2000 Lion’s Gate/Alliance Release...
, who also wrote the screenplay with Alessandro Camon
Alessandro Camon
Alessandro Camon is a writer and film producer.Born in Padua, Italy, he currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Camon is a graduate of the University of Padua, School of Philosophy, and received a Masters in Film from UCLA in Los Angeles, California....
.
The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
2009 Sundance Film Festival
The 2009 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 15, 2009 until January 25 in Park City, Utah. It was the 25th iteration of the Sundance Film Festival.-Award winners:*Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - We Live in Public...
and was in competition at Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
2009 where it won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and the Berlinale Peace Film Award '09. The film received first prize for the 2009 Deauville American Film Festival
Deauville American Film Festival
The Deauville American Film Festival is a yearly film festival devoted to American cinema, taking place since 1975 in Deauville, France. It was established by Lionel Chouchan and André Halimi....
. 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 SergeantStaff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
and declared war hero, has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification
Casualty Notification
Casualty notification is the process of notifying relatives of people who have been killed or seriously injured unexpectedly...
service. Montgomery is partnered with a strict recovering alcoholic, Captain Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
), to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers and spend time with him off protocol. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson (Samantha Morton
Samantha Morton
Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
), now a single mother, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.
Cast
- Ben Foster as Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery
- Woody HarrelsonWoody HarrelsonWoodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
as Capt. Tony Stone - Steve BuscemiSteve BuscemiSteven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi is an American actor, writer and film director. An associate member of the renowned experimental theater company The Wooster Group, Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films including New York Stories, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs,...
as Dale Martin - Jena MaloneJena MaloneJena Malone is an American actress and musician who has appeared on television, in films, and on Broadway. She made her movie debut with the film Bastard Out of Carolina , and has appeared in films including Contact , Stepmom , Donnie Darko , Saved! , Into the Wild , and Sucker Punch .Malone is...
as Kelly - Yaya DaCosta as Monica Washington
- Samantha MortonSamantha MortonSamantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
as Olivia Pitterson - Fiona DourifFiona DourifFiona Dourif is an American film and television actress.Fiona was born in Woodstock, New York. Her father is Oscar-nominated actor Brad Dourif, and her mother is Jonina "Joni" Dourif. She has one sister Kristina Dourif born in 1976. She is of French-Romanian ancestry on her mother's...
as Returning Soldier's Wife - Eamonn WalkerEamonn WalkerEamonn Walker is an English film, television and theatre actor. In the United States, he is known for playing Kareem Said in the HBO television series Oz, for which he won a CableACE Award, and elsewere as Winston, the gay, black thorn in Alf Garnett's side in In Sickness and in Health and John...
as Lt. Col Stuart Dorsett - Peter Francis JamesPeter Francis JamesPeter Francis James is an American actor and voice-over artist, distinguished by his strong baritone.-Life and career:He was born September 16, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois to David James and Mary Galloway James...
as Dr. Grosso
Production
The Messenger marked the directorial debut of Israeli screenwriter and former journalist Oren MovermanOren Moverman
Oren Moverman is an Israeli filmmaker, screenwriter, and former journalist based in New York City.Moverman was the screenwriter and associate producer of Jesus' Son, a 2000 Lion’s Gate/Alliance Release...
. Though Sydney Pollack
Sydney Pollack
Sydney Irwin Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he later taught acting...
, Roger Michell
Roger Michell
Roger Michell is an English theatre, television and film director.-Personal life:He was born in Pretoria, South Africa but spent significant parts of his childhood in Beirut, Damascus and Prague as his father was a diplomat. He was educated at Clifton College where he became a member of Brown's...
, and Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
were all attached to direct the movie at various times, when those talks fell through, the producers eventually asked Moverman to helm the project. 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.
Reception
The film currently holds a 90% 'Certified Fresh' rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
based on 151 reviews. The film also currently holds a 76% 'Generally favorable reviews' rating on MetaCritic based on 27 reviews.
Harrelson's performance was critically praised, leading to Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
.
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.- 3rd: Robert Mondello, NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
- 4th: Ty BurrTy BurrTy Burr has been a film critic for the Boston Globe since 2002 where he reviews films alongside Wesley Morris.Born in 1957, he studied film at Dartmouth College and New York University and has written three books: The Hundred Greatest Movies of All Time, The Hundred Greatest Stars of All Time and...
, Boston Globe - 4th: Stephen HoldenStephen HoldenStephen Holden is an American writer, music critic, film critic, and poet.Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1963...
, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization... - 9th: Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
- 10th: Peter TraversPeter TraversPeter Travers is an American film critic, who has written for, in turn, People and Rolling Stone. Travers also hosts a celebrity interview show called Popcorn on ABC News Now and ABCNews.com.-Career:...
, Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J... - Top 10: David DenbyDavid Denby (film critic)David Denby is an American journalist, best known as a film critic for The New Yorker magazine.-Background and education:Denby grew up in New York City. He received a B.A...
, The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
Wins
- Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
- Peace Film Award
- Silver Berlin Bear (Best Screenplay): Alessandro CamonAlessandro CamonAlessandro Camon is a writer and film producer.Born in Padua, Italy, he currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Camon is a graduate of the University of Padua, School of Philosophy, and received a Masters in Film from UCLA in Los Angeles, California....
and Oren MovermanOren MovermanOren Moverman is an Israeli filmmaker, screenwriter, and former journalist based in New York City.Moverman was the screenwriter and associate producer of Jesus' Son, a 2000 Lion’s Gate/Alliance Release...
- Deauville Film Festival
- Critics Award: Best Film
- Grand Special Prize: Best Film
- Independent Spirit AwardsIndependent Spirit AwardsThe Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody HarrelsonWoody HarrelsonWoodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- National Board of Review
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Spotlight Award: Oren Moverman
- San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
- Best Supporting Actress: Samantha MortonSamantha MortonSamantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
- Best Supporting Actress: Samantha Morton
Nominations
- Academy Awards
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Best Original Screenplay: Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
- Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
- Golden Berlin Bear: Oren Moverman
- Broadcast Film Critics Association AwardsBroadcast Film Critics Association AwardsThe Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, commonly called the Critics' Choice Awards, are bestowed annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Nominees are selected by written ballots in a week-long voting period, and are announced in...
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Best Supporting Actress: Samantha Morton
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Golden Globe Awards
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Gotham AwardsGotham AwardsThe Gotham Awards is an annual ceremony of awards presented to the makers of independent films which takes place in New York City...
- Breakthrough Award: Ben Foster
- Independent Spirit AwardsIndependent Spirit AwardsThe Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
- Best First Feature
- Best Supporting Actress: Samantha Morton
- Best Screenplay: Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
- Online Film Critics Society Awards
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Satellite AwardsSatellite AwardsThe Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
- Best Motion Picture (Drama)
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Saturn Awards
- Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film
- Screen Actors Guild AwardsScreen Actors Guild AwardsA Screen Actors Guild Award is an accolade given by the Screen Actors Guild to recognize outstanding performances by its members. The statuette given, a nude male figure holding both a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy, is called "The Actor"...
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson
- Best Supporting Actress: Samantha Morton
Box office performance
In North America, The Messenger opened in limited release, and so far the film has grossed $1,109,660. With a foreign gross of $411,601, The Messenger has achieved a worldwide gross of $1,521,261.External links
- The Messenger at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...