The Messenger is better than The Hurt Locker. Both films express common themes, such as the mental state of army personnel – during and after their deployment – and how people react differently to stressful situations. The films also introduce themselves slowly, using staccato rhythm of individual missions and assignments before reverting to a more traditional Hollywood storyline arc.
Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery returns from Iraq after suffering an eye injury. He is assigned to the “Angels of Death” squadron, led by Captain Tony Stone, which is tasked with informing the next of kin after a casualty. Initial encounters with family members are disparate and different, perhaps similar to the series of reactions that Ryan Bingham faces in Up in the Air. The messengers face depression, denial, and outright rage as they try to do their jobs.
As Sgt. Montgomery and Capt. Stone work together, they start to deal with the baggage that they have accumulated over the years. Their personal lives have collapsed and although they cope somewhat, their issues are ultimately left unresolved, like many members of the armed forces who have returned from active duty. The tracking shots are very well-done, as is the editing. ***