Home / The Messenger

The Messenger

Year:

2010

Duration:

113 min | Germany:105 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

IMDB rate:

7.2

Director:

Oren Moverman

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 34 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 2010-02-19

Filming Locations: Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA

Earnings

Budget: $6,500,000

Opening Weekend: $44,523 (USA) (15 November 2009)

Gross: $1,108,684 (USA) (9 May 2010)

Cast

Actor

Character

Ben Foster

Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery

Jena Malone

Kelly

Eamonn Walker

Colonel Stuart Dorsett

Woody Harrelson

Captain Tony Stone

Yaya DaCosta

Monica Washington

Portia

Mrs. Burrell

Lisa Joyce

Emily

Steve Buscemi

Dale Martin

Peter Francis James

Dr. Grosso

Samantha Morton

Olivia Pitterson

Paul Diomede

Motorcycle Cop

Jahmir Duran-Abreau

Matt Pitterson

Gaius Charles

Recruiter Brown

Brendan Sexton III

Recruiter Olson

Brian Adam DeJesus

Teenager #1 (as Brian DeJesus)

T.J. Allen

Teenager #2

Halley Feiffer

Marla Cohen

Peter Friedman

Mr. Cohen

Jeremy Strong

Returning Soldier

Fiona Dourif

Returning Soldier's Wife

Lindsay Michelle Nader

Claire

Merritt Wever

Lara

Carl Anthony Payne II

Pitterson's Father (as Carl Payne)

Francis A. Adams

Firing Party Team Leader

J. Salome Martinez

Captain Garcia

Angel Caban

Mr. Vasquez

Kevin Hagan

Mr. Flanigan

Marceline Hugot

Mrs. Flanigan

Michael Chernus

Alan

Stevie Ray Dallimore

Kelly's Father

Dale Soules

Cashier

Steve Antonucci

Soldier (uncredited)

Sara Jane Blazo

Kelly's Mom (uncredited)

Robert Feeley

Vietnam Veteran

Donna Ross

Soldiers Friend

Karen Summerton

Flirty Girl (uncredited)

Francine Bianco Tax

Reception Pianist (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

At various stages in development, Sydney Pollack, Roger Michel and Ben Affleck were all attached to direct. Writer Oren Moverman was finally asked to helm the project after all these fell through.

Share this

The soldiers in the film wear a unit patch with a large "22" on it. This is a fictional unit. The actual 22nd Infantry Division was a "Phantom Division" that never actually existed. It was created in World War II to fool German intelligence. The patch created is different from the one in the film, though.

Share this

The last shot filmed was after Will finds out that Kelly's getting married and is on the floor, desperately trying to sleep, and puts the blanket over his head.

Share this

Goofs

SSG Montgomery should have at least two service stripes on his left sleeve, in addition to the missing Overseas Service Bars. Each service stripe denotes 3 years of service and he'd likely have at least 2 of them.

Share this

Several times throughout the movie, Captain Stone notifies next of kin of deceased soldiers without first getting positive confirmation that they are, in fact, the soldier's next of kin. Casualty Notification Officers are required to make sure that the person they are addressing is actually the next of kin before making notification. This is not a mistake that a professional like Captain Stone would make.

Share this

When Will gets pulled over for running a red light, Capt. Stone's seat belt is on and off between takes.

Share this

Quotes

Alan: What happened to you guys?

Share this

Captain Tony Stone: [walking to deliver the news to a wife that her husband has died] It could be worse. It could be Christmas.

Share this

Captain Tony Stone: One more thing. You do not touch the Next-of-Kin. Avoid physical contact, unless it's a medical emergency, like they're having a heart attack or something. You're representing the Secretary of the Army, not Will Montgomery, so in case you feel like offering a hug or something... don't.

Share this

Faq

Is anyone familiar with the song playing at the 12ish minute mark? Song also plays when SSG Montgomery punches a hole in the wall.

Answer editing encouraged!

Share this