The Messenger (2009 film)

The Messenger is a 2009 film about an American soldier who struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.
 * Directed by Oren Moverman. Written by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman.

Capt. Tony Stone

 * [walking to deliver the news to a wife that her husband has died] It could be worse. It could be Christmas.


 * Men are the ones that try harder to keep it together. They also can hurt you.


 * All I ever wanted was to get shot at. Is that too much to ask for, on the battlefield? A battle?

Dale Martin

 * Look at that tree. Look at that fucking tree! The same age as my son!

Dialogue

 * Captain Tony Stone: I know what you're thinkin'. You're thinkin' shit, I'm a goddamn decorated war hero with three months left to serve, and they draft me into the angels-of-death squadron. I get a beeper, a canned speech, and a lunatic commanding officer to serve a fuckin' ocean of grief. Am I right?
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: More or less, sir. Am I right?


 * Captain Tony Stone: It should be in the next couple of blocks...
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: We should just ask someone.
 * Captain Tony Stone: No! First of all, men don't ask for directions. Much less soldiers.


 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: Why did you join?
 * Captain Tony Stone: A dare.
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: A dare? Why are you still here?
 * Captain Tony Stone: Well, they offered me a commission, and no one dared me to leave. And I dare you to stay.


 * Captain Tony Stone: If she's into you, she's into some weird shit.
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: Thank you, sir, I'll make a note of that.


 * Olivia Pitterson: Did you ever lose anybody?
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: Yeah. Friends, over there. My father, during peace time, drunk driver.
 * Olivia Pitterson: Did they catch him?
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: No, my father was the drunk driver.


 * Captain Tony Stone: You gotta wake the fuck up! You're not in high school, you're not in a fuckin' rock band, you're in the Army.
 * Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery: Yeah, I know. I know I'm in the Army. I gave blood to the Army. I got blown up in a fire-fight that lasted longer than your entire war. I didn't sunbath in Kuwait with the rest of the POGs.

Cast

 * Ben Foster – Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery
 * Woody Harrelson – Capt. Tony Stone
 * Steve Buscemi – Dale Martin
 * Jena Malone – Kelly
 * Samantha Morton – Olivia Pitterson
 * Fiona Dourif - Returning Soldier's Wife
 * Yaya DaCosta – Monica Washington
 * Eamonn Walker – Lt. Col. Stuart Dorsett
 * Peter Francis James – Dr. Grosso