Don't Shoot The Messenger

Somewhere in this blog I mentioned that the great thing about Independent Film is that it tells stories that aren't made for mass consumption and goes places that aren't always easy to see, places and stories that might otherwise be ignored. "The Messenger" is a classic example.
Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson play two soldiers on the Army's Casualty Notification Team. Their job is to inform the loved ones of fallen soldiers of their demise. The reactions are powerful, unpredictable and always break your heart. But it's the relationship between Foster and Harrelson that brings the story its sense of humanity. This film, when looked at with other powerful independent films from this year like "Precious" and "The Hurt Locker", make for a stellar year for the Independent Film Movement. Think 1939 in the Studio System era.
Ben Foster's performance should be recognized as one of the best of the year and Woody Harrelson finally puts forth some effort in a film that matches his talent. The result may be an Oscar nod.
Just a quick word about another co-star of "The Messenger", Samantha Morton. She is truly the most underused actress in film today. She's a major talent, clearly one of the best of her generation. In "The Messenger" she turns what might have been a wishy washy character into one you'll remember, honest and full of emotional complexity. See this film. It's one of the best of the year.