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Posted: Friday, 20 November 2009 10:14AM
THE MESSENGER
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(R)
The Casualty Notification Staff...the men and women who knock on doors with the tragic news of a loved one killed in combat..lends itself to strong drama. In The Messenger, an Iraq war hero, played by Ben Foster, is asked to finish up his service by becoming a part of a Casualty Notification Unit. Woody Harrelson is the seasoned Vet who takes him through the ropes..how to do this sensitive, challenging job, what to look for, how to handle violent confrontations. One of my favorite character actors, Steve Buscemi, shows up as a bereaved father in an Oscar-worthy though brief performance. The two leads drive the picture, and it is not often that we root for them or their success. It's a buddy film, and that alone will satisfy some, but there are moments of "wait..why did he do that?" "where are the consequences for that action?" that keeps the film from being as powerful as it should be. Two hats for the important subject matter and that standout performance by Buscemi.
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Copyright 2009, KCBS. All Rights Reserved.
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