The Messengers (2007) Cast and Crew When the Solomons trade in the craziness of big-city life for the quiet of a North Dakota farm, little do they expect the nightmare that follows. The messengers series showed up in my feed, and I decided to try it out. I was very underwhelmed. The concept was interesting, I suppose, but everything about it was shallow.

Running time113 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$6.5 millionBox office$1.5 millionThe Messenger is a 2009 film starring,. It is the directorial debut of, who also wrote the screenplay with.The film premiered at the and was in competition at the where it won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and the Berlinale Peace Film Award '09. The film received first prize for the 2009. The film has also received four nominations (including one win), a nomination, and two nominations. Contents.Plot After his return from Iraq, Will Montgomery, a on leave, finds that his girlfriend Kelly is engaged to another man.

Before he is to be discharged, he is dispatched as a along with Capt. Stone as his mentor. He is told of the importance of his task by Lieutenant Col. Dorsett as many have failed. Stone then relays the rules of telling next of kin of a tragedy. On the job, their first report to the family prompts the mother to slap Stone, as her family weeps over the loss of her son; a man named Dale Martin is angry when news of his son's death warrants no reason to him; a woman who secretly married an enlisted man without telling her father cries in his arms after learning of the man's death; a Mexican man who is told through a translator about the death of his daughter cries in front of his other child; and a woman named Olivia, is in considerably less pain after learning of her husband's death.

Stone suspects it is due to her having an affair.In a bar, Will and Stone discuss their lives to each other. Will talks about his girlfriend rejecting him and tells Stone about his father's death due to drunk driving, along with tales of his estranged mother. Will sees Olivia with her son at a store confronting men attempting to enlist teenagers and dismisses them before offering her a ride. He fixes her car and becomes friends with both her and her young son Matt.

After hearing Kelly's voicemail, he punches a hole through his wall in a fit of rage. He arrives at Olivia's house and almost has sex with her before they decide not to; she tells him about how her husband mistreated her and how he abused her son which clears up suspicion of her cheating on him by Stone.When Will comforts a family in a local grocery store after telling them of their son's fate, Stone berates him for it. Will stands up to his rank by using his first name, Tony, and tells him that humans deserve compassion, before walking home on his own.

They make up, however, and end up at Kelly's wedding drunk, attempting to ridicule her and Alan. They wake up in a forest after passing out, and go home. Dale Martin apologizes for lashing out at Will and shakes his hand.

Will and Tony go to the latter's apartment. Will tells Tony about his experience with a friend who died while battling in Iraq and how he feels his bravery is meaningless as he could not do anything for him; he tells Tony of his attempted suicide attempt from the hospital window that was thwarted when he saw the sunrise. After Will leaves the room Tony breaks down in tears.The next day, Olivia decides to move from her house.

She tells him that she is going with her son to Louisiana; Will tells her he is considering staying in the army.Cast. as Sgt. Will Montgomery.

Riven counters. as Capt. Tony Stone. as Olivia Pitterson. as Kelly. as Dale Martin.

as Monica Washington. as LtCol. Stuart Dorsett.

as Dr. Grosso. as Lara. as Recruiter Brown. as Recruiter Olson. as Pitterson's Father. as Marla Cohen.

as Mr. Cohen. as Returning Soldier. as Returning Soldier's Wife. as AlanProduction The Messenger marked the directorial debut of Israeli screenwriter and former journalist.

Though, and 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 to conduct research on military life, and were specifically advised by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sinor as a technical consultant. Release The Messenger premiered at the before receiving a limited release in North America in 4 theaters.

It grossed $44,523 for an average of $11,131 per theater ranking 46th at the box office, and went on to earn $1.1 million domestically and $411,601 internationally for a total of $1.5 million, against its budget of $6.5 million. Reception Critical response On the film has an approval rating of 89% based on 157 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The site's critical consensus states, 'A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/director Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster.'

On the film has a score of 77 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'.Harrelson's performance was subject to considerable praise, leading to and nominations for.