The Messenger

THE MESSENGER

Up For:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Occasionally, the Oscar Challenge has helped shine a light on films that, for some reason or another, are glazed over by the local theaters and publicity as a whole. The Messenger was one of those films.

Without much knowledge going into The Messenger (only knowing its nominations with Woody Harrelson bringing in the Best Supporting Actor), I was skeptical. Minutes into the film, you see the main character portrayed by Ben Foster (a personal favorite of mine since the film Get Over It with Kirsten Dunst & Colin Hanks and recently Pandorum).

This film was phenomenal, deserving of anything that it gets but unfortunately probably not receiving much with the stiff competition. On a personal level, this film achieves in touching you and entertaining you in, not only a unique way, but a powerful way that makes you want to watch the film again just to experience it.

Woody Harrelson is on a role. Woody's performance in Zombieland deserved a nomination for some kind of award because he made that film shine as one of my favorite films of 2009. Now partaking in this powerful film, with one of the strongest and powerful performances I have ever viewed him in, I see that he has got the longevity to stick it out in the film industry with every year he grows older.

Like I stated, The Messenger will most likely not receive an award, especially up against the great Christoph Waltz and the screenplay for Hurt Locker, but it does not take away from this unique look at life outside of the war of the Army and the reactions of people finding that their hardworking sons and daughter, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers have died protecting their country.

The Messenger easily makes my list for top 5 films viewed during this Oscar Challenge and I challenge you to find it when it comes out on DVD and give it a shot despite lack of publicity.

(10 FILMS TO GO)