Friday, May 21, 2010
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Friday, May 21, 2010
BLU-RAY REVIEW
The Messenger
The Year's Best Film (2009)
Gets A Second Introduction
"The Messenger", the best film of 2009, was released on Blu-Ray and DVD this
week from Oscilloscope Laboratories.
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
FOLLOW
Friday, May 21, 2010
"The Messenger", the best film of 2009, is an
adult drama without a false note whatsoever. In his feature film-directing
debut Oren Moverman brings the horror of war to your doorstep not through
violence, but with the words "the Secretary of the Army has asked me to express
his deepest regret..."
The independent drama from Oscilloscope Laboratories arrived this week in the
U.S. and Canada on Blu-Ray and DVD. It merits a second look.
Released in U.S. theaters in late October and November 2009, "The Messenger"
received a small viewing audience but high critical acclaim (including from this
publication) and Academy Award nominations for
original screenplay and supporting actor. "The Messenger" was written by
Mr. Moverman and Alessandro Camon.
Two military officers have the unenviable task of casualty notification to
families of fallen loved ones. Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (Ben Foster)
has three months left on his war service after suffering an eye injury.
He's schooled into this grim practice of messengering by Captain Tony Stone
(Woody Harrelson, Oscar nominated for his role), who lays down the law about
what to say when notifying the families of soldiers killed in theater.
Shot in Super 35mm, "The Messenger" is a male bonding film about the protocol of
grief and emotion between military men, and the disconnect in American society
via its citizenry's numbness to war's harsh realities. The country's
mainstream press coverage still sanitizes war, but Mr. Moverman's film throws
the consequences of war at us intelligently and powerfully, yet with great
restraint. We never forget what loss means.
Most of all, "The Messenger" is about the people behind the suffering and the
lonely internal soundtrack percolating in the two men who deliver news no family
member wishes to hear. Featuring excellent performances all around,
including Samantha Morton and amazing acting by Mr. Foster, Mr. Moverman's
superb direction and Bobby Bukowski's camerawork are priceless.
Commensurate with its subject matter "The Messenger" is given a great,
respectful treatment on Blu-Ray. It contains the 1080p Blu-Ray edition
2.35:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD 5.1 audio track and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, plus a
number of extras, including a 15-minute documentary entitled "Notification",
about the perilous job of casualty notification of next of kin. The
documentary was directed by Joe Kelly and John Vernon. (Mr. Kelly passed
away due to Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 43 in January.)
The other extras are a short essay (see black panel above) by former soldier,
war veteran and author Anthony Swofford, the subject of Sam Mendes' film
"Jarhead". The essay, All The Rules Are Gone, was written in
March. A funny, entertaining audio commentary track is on the Blu-Ray
disc, with Mr. Moverman, the two lead actors and Lawrence Inglee, one of the
film's producers, participating. The featurette "Going Home" contains
brief interviews of the main cast and crew, and there's a 20-minute Variety
Screening Series Q&A session in Los Angeles with the director, two principal
cast members, Mr. Inglee, Mr. Camon and Mr. Bukowski.
At least a dozen trailers from Oscilloscope (including "The Messenger") are on
the Blu-Ray and can be viewed by clicking on the titles listed. (Click
"Oscilloscope" on the menu to access the trailers.)
A second disc -- a DVD -- contains the complete shooting script for "The
Messenger", as well as the special features. The script can be viewed only
on a PC or Mac. Half a dozen trailers can be viewed on the DVD.
("The Messenger" is also available as a single DVD special edition, which
contains the same features as the DVD in the two-disc Blu-Ray + DVD edition
reviewed here.)
"The Messenger" in Blu-Ray format doesn't look much different from its
appearance on DVD but Mr. Moverman's film is designed not as eye candy, but as a
thought-provoking and solemn event. If you missed it during its brief run
in theaters in 2009 or 2010 you are duty-bound to see this vital and important
film on Blu-Ray.
With: Jena Malone, Eamonn Walker, Yaya DaCosta.
"The Messenger" is rated R by the Motion Picture
Association Of America for language and some sexual content/nudity.
The film's duration is one hour and 52 minutes.
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