The Messenger (2009 film)
| 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 |
| Edited by | Alexander Hall |
| Distributed by | Oscilloscope Laboratories |
Release dates |
|
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, 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 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
- Ben Foster as SSgt. Will Montgomery
- Woody Harrelson as Capt. Tony Stone
- Samantha Morton as Olivia Pitterson
- Jena Malone as Kelly
- Steve Buscemi as Dale Martin
- Yaya DaCosta as Monica Washington
- Eamonn Walker as LtCol. Stuart Dorsett
- Peter Francis James as Dr. Grosso
- Merritt Wever as Lara
- Gaius Charles as Recruiter Brown
- Brendan Sexton III as Recruiter Olson
- Carl Anthony Payne II as Pitterson's Father
- Halley Feiffer as Marla Cohen
- Peter Friedman as Mr. Cohen
- Jeremy Strong as Returning Soldier
- Fiona Dourif as Returning Soldier's Wife
- Michael Chernus as Alan
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]
- 3rd: Robert Mondello, NPR[10]
- 4th: Ty Burr, Boston Globe[10]
- 4th: Stephen Holden, The New York Times[10]
- 9th: Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter[10]
- 10th: Peter Travers, Rolling Stone[10]
- Top 10: David Denby, The New Yorker[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 2 The Messenger (2009). Box Office Mojo (2010-05-13). Retrieved on 2011-04-03.
- ↑ Todd McCarthy (2008-12-04). "More star power at Sundance". Variety. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ↑ The Messenger full synopsis at contentfilm.com
- ↑ Metro – An intimate look at grief found in the heart of war. Metronews.ca. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Interview: The Messenger's Oren Moverman. Ioncinema.Com (2009-11-11). Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- ↑ "The Messenger (2009) - Box Office Mojo".
- ↑ "The Messenger". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
- ↑ "The Messenger". MetaCritic. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
- ↑ Golden Globes Nominations Are Revealed. Empireonline.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-26.
- 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.
External links
- Official website
- The Messenger at AllMovie
- The Messenger at Box Office Mojo
- The Messenger at the Internet Movie Database
- The Messenger at Metacritic
- The Messenger at Rotten Tomatoes
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