THE MESSENGER New Lights

After collecting his medals and recovering from hi s wounds inflicted during a tour of duty in Iraq, Will Montgomery, played by Ben Foster (SIX FEET UNDER, 3lO TO YUMA) in his first leading role, marks his return to civilian life by sleeping with his o ld girlfriend (Jena Malone), now engaged to another man. He’s at a loss for what to do until the Army assigns him to the Casualty Notification Office where the emotions and memories he’s been trying to suppress begin to surface Will delivers his messages of death with the funny-scary Tony (Woody Harrelson), a teacher with demons of hi s own. Samantha Morton gives an exquisite and nuanced performance as Olivia, a widow whom Will befriends, much to Tony’s chagrin First-time director Oren Movermon (co-writer of JESUS’ SON and l’M NOT THERE) co-wrote the script with Alessandro Camon, creating a subtle, delicately modulated character study, a winner of awards from the Berlin and Deauville film festivals.