There's something hot about the guys in Oren Moverman's well-crafted movie The Messenger. Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster play a team of soldiers whose task it is to inform NOK's (Next of Kin) about the death of their loved ones in Iraq and Afganistan-not your typical sexy subject. And not your typical film about the military either. A buddy movie, this Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid takes the duo door-to-door, to the anguished howls of mothers, fathers, wives and children. Playing a bereaved dad, Steve Buscemi, spits in Ben Foster's face raging, why wasn't he over there, why didn't he die instead of his son, not knowing of course about the messenger's own wounds. War brings out the worst and perhaps the best of men; an unusual sensitivity emerges as Foster's Will defies orders, physically touching those grieving, particularly Olivia (a fine Samantha Morton), a mother of a young son. Oren Moverman, a veteran of the Israeli army and a noted screenwriter (I'm Not There, Jesus's Son) penned this script with Alessandro Camon, a Los Angeles based producer, and this is his directorial debut. When asked why he chose this film trusting a first-time director, Harrelson said simply, “Necessity. I had to after I'd read the script.” Both he and Foster rave about Moverman's deft work with actors, so evident that each one delivers an Oscar worthy performance. Rarely do you see men so naked, especially in uniform.

Regina Weinreich

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