THE MESSENGER TELEGRAMS WHAT BUSH & CHENEY AVOIDED–AND OBAMA’S DILEMMA
Prior to the Iraq War, telegrams notified the next of kin (NOK) of deaths in war. Now, two uniformed soldiers of the Casualty Notification Service quickly contact a NOK as soon as the death has been confirmed because otherwise the press will be the first to report the fact. Shortly after The Messenger begins, recently wounded Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery (played by Ben Foster) is assigned to such a two-person unit as the junior partner of Captain Tony Stone (played by Woody Harrelson). They make six notifications. The grief of the NOKs is something that Bush, Cheney, and Obama should experience to reflect on the consequences of their warmaking. Director Oren Moverman graphically portrays the effect on Montgomery, who yearns to date a surviving spouse, and Stone, who falls off the wagon. MH