7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
U.S. Army officer is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service. He struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.
Starring: Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone, Steve BuscemiDrama | 100% |
War | 54% |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
2009 ushered in a new focus on the crippling nature of modern warfare, and the scars it can leave on the men and woman that serve their country. Largely overshadowed by the widespread success of Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, films such as Brothers and The Messenger received little acknowledgement at the box office, despite an outpouring of positive reviews. Prior to tackling this Blu-ray review, I had zero knowledge of The Messenger, which is rather surprising given the notable cast (Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton), two Academy Award nominations, and a slew of other small-scale awards/nominations. What’s even more baffling when you look at the box office history of the film is the fact that it never earned a wide release by a major distributor, and was eventually picked up by a relatively unknown home video studio named Oscilloscope Laboratories. As sad as that may be, it provides us with proof that the major Hollywood studios don’t always get it right, and it’s up to those of us in the home theater community to dig a little deeper for independent classics such as The Messenger.
I'm not sure who looks more intense.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 22Mbps), The Messenger contains a variety of subtle textures that accommodate the superb staging of each scene. One of the first elements that stuck out in the visual presentation is the bleak appearance of the color spectrum, which rarely incorporates vivid hues, yet manages to appear entirely natural within the confines of the film's tone. Fine object detail remains slightly above average through the extent of the film, revealing adequate facial textures throughout close-up shots, and the subtle nuances in the fabrics that comprise the soldier's uniforms. Adding an additional layer of depth across the surface of the image, there's a light smattering of film grain that contributes to the gritty feel of the production, and enhances the overall experience. Unfortunately, there's one element of the production that doesn't hold up quite so well. In several instances black level depth slides into gray territory, wreaking havoc on contrast differentiation and nearly eliminating shadow detail. There's a good chance this is a byproduct of poor lighting in the source material, creating a need for artificial brightness boosting, but regardless of the reason it's a weakness worth mentioning.
In the end, The Messenger provides a decent visual presentation that never approaches demo-worthy quality, but still offers a sufficient upgrade over the DVD version included in the package.
Considering this is the first release from Oscilloscope Laboratories, I was slightly surprised to find a decent quality lossless track included on the disc. Most fledgling studios break into the Blu-ray format with a primary focus on the visual capabilities, but take a little longer to appreciate the potential improvement in the audio portion of the presentation. Digging into the nuts and bolts of this particular track, we're given a front-heavy experience that's well suited for such a subtle audio mix. Aside from a handful of scenes, the majority of the runtime remains focused on intimate dialog and a soundtrack consisting of reflective guitar pieces. This isn't a bad thing (after all, not every film can be an action blockbuster), but it limits the production's ability to create a more immersive experience through spatial separation. Instead, I'd say the audio portion of the presentation acts solely as a complimentary side-dish to the engrossing plot (which serves the intended purpose), but doesn't extend much additional effort.
Notification (480p, Linear PCM 2.0, 24:07 min): This documentary was filmed by Joe Kelly and John Vernon as a companion to the feature film (under the permission of the U.S. Army). It features interviews with members of the Army that describe several of their worst experiences as members of the Casualty Notification/Assistance division, and a vivid account of the occupation. Interspersed with these interviews are tearful stories of heartbreak from the actual people that lost loved ones during the course of military service. Prepare yourself with a box of tissues before settling in to view this supplement.
Going Home: Reflections from the Set (480p, Linear PCM 2.0, 11:40 min): Featuring interviews with military liaisons and members of the cast/crew, this supplement digs into the message behind the story (including political implications), the cinematography/set design, and the nuances of the primary characters (and the actors that portray them).
Variety Screening Series Q&A with Filmmakers and Cast (1080i, Linear PCM 2.0, 27:16 min): Designed as a panel interview, the prominent members of the cast and crew address an extensive list of challenging questions regarding the story, characters, and overall experience of working on such an emotionally draining production.
Feature Length Audio Commentary (director/writer Oren Moverman, producer Lawrence Inglee, Ben Foster, and Woody Harrelson): Director Oren Moverman is the primary contributor on this track, which manages to encompass everything from the original story to technical aspects of the production.
The Messenger deserves recognition as one of the greatest films of 2009, easily besting some of the odd Best Picture nods at last year's Academy Awards. It's a shame the film never earned a wide theatrical release during 2009, but considering the second chance offered by the home video market, I'm confident it will sprout new legs through positive word of mouth and an easily-accessible rental market. If you couldn't tell by now, I'd offer the highest recommendation for The Messenger, but acknowledge the difficult subject matter may not fit within everyone's taste.
Collector's Edition
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Special Edition
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Love & Honor
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Final Cut | 40th Anniversary Edition
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