The Messenger

Director Oren Moverman, Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and a large group of other cast and crew at the world premier of "The Messenger"

EMPIRE AVENUE, PARK CITY

With three months left in the service, Will (Ben Foster) has spent a good deal of time in army hospitals, healing scars from his time in Iraq. His chance at a fresh start lies in working shoulder to shoulder with Tony (Woody Harrelson), a senior officer who teaches him the ropes of his new post with the Casualty Notification Office. Will, who narrowly escaped death, must now break the news about those who didn’t. Between assignments, these two soldiers form a bond that helps them in their struggle to get back to "normal" life, fully knowing nothing will ever really be normal again. Foster adds yet another layer when Will faces an ethical dilemma because he is drawn to one of the young widows, played by Samantha Morton.

At it's center, this is a film about two guys who choose to live life and the relationship that grows between them. The fact that it's painted over the backdrop of the military is mostly inconsequential. It's a film that doesn't pack a huge emotional punch and leans toward predictability, but still proves to be enjoyable and insightful. It keeps a mostly even-keel, rarely challenging the depths of the characters.

Transsiberian

Brad Anderson talks about making Transsiberian following the screening


PARK CITY

Exceptional suspense. That's what I'd call Transsiberian, the latest work from director Brad Anderson premiering at this year's festival. The basic premise follows a couple, played by Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer, as they depart from a church mission helping kids in China on a journey from Beijing to Moscow aboard the Transsiberian Express. It's a journey through a land of beautiful desolation, filled with colorful locals and snow cover trees. The couple makes fast friends with their backpacking bunkmates, a Spaniard played by Eduardo Noriega and a 20 year old girl from Seattle played by Kate Mara. The claustrophobic train warms with their friendship as they share stories of their travels and their past. But not all is as it seems. The film's story soon turns to one of heroin trafficking, murder and corruption, fueled by layer upon layer of lies as Russian cops (one played by Ben Kingsley) and mobsters enter the fray.

What emerges is a film that defies expectations: a film that takes you deep within the psychology of the characters and continually keeps you on your toes. This is a film that never stoops to cater to an audience, instead establishing early on that you can't believe most of what you hear and can't expect that things will ever go as planned. Never rushed, and never feeling like artistic masturbation, Transsiberian ultimately delivers an incredible rollercoaster ride that shortens your breath (though some of that may be the altitude here in Park City) and keeps you guessing until the very end. The performances are all hugely engaging and top-notch, including Woody Harrelson who, for once, doesn't play Woody Harrelson (he's a huge train buff with a spotless past who's not yet wise to the realities of traveling outside of the US).

Though at it's core Transsiberian is an independent film with a European flavor, there's enough commercial appeal that I expect it will easily find a buyer at Sundance and will make a full theatrical run in the not too distant future, especially considering the pedigree of those involved.

Now... grub.