AFI FEST Los Angeles International Film Festival 2009

The directorial debut of accomplished screenwriter Oren Moverman (I’m Not There and Jesus’ Son) The Messenger is a powerful and tender story about a returned war hero making his first steps toward a normal life. In his first leading role, Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Harrelson) to deliver tragic news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband's death, Will’s emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival. Not just a well written script, but a showcase for two amazing performances by Foster and Harrelson who bring us into the inner lives of these outwardly steely heroes to reveal their fragility with compassion and dignity.