Regarding "the ceremony is worthless," this was demonstrated for all time last year when the Academy failed to recognize "Avatar" as a film landmark comparable to the advent of sound and color. The Oscar is a popularity contest, not a valid recognition of merit. "Hurt Locker" was a good film but it is what one should expect when buying a theater ticket. The best picture and best director Oscars for Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron's former wife, is a reflection of the member pettiness and envy at his historic achievement. For any that are of a similar opinion, or to those who are unaware of the scope of Cameron's achievement, please see the coffee table book "The Making of Avatar" which details his incredible vision and its realization.
Reviews
2 Reviews
The Messenger
(I) (2009)
To quote George Clooney, "you can't make a great movie from a crappy script"
31 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this an incredibly clumsy film where the two main characters didn't really seem to be part of any military organization, completely on their own when not doing their notification duty.
The actual"notifications" seemed equally clumsy as if the director and screen writer hadn't bothered to determine the actual procedure (from a website):
"I've been trained to do Casualty Assistance and Notification duties ... When the casualty affairs office receives notice of a death, they wait on positive identification, then they look at the soldier's records to find out who to notify. While this is going on, the Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) is informed that there was a death, and has to don the proper uniform (Class A) and go to the Casualty Affairs office for a briefing. Part of the briefing is to receive a statement containing the proper words to use to tell the primary next of kin (PNOK)..."
Incredible that these two misfits would be entrusted with such a sensitive assignment and in the case of the Sargent, with no training whatsoever. There was no briefing re the KIA, just a beeper. And instead of a customized message, it was the same canned speech in every case.
The bonding of the officer and EM seems highly unusual, apparently both living off base which was never referred to.The Iraq veteran's health status was introduced but never resolved and the pair in fatigues crashing and being accepted/included in the Iraq vet's ex-girlfriend's engagement party seemed especially forced and unreal.
So, I go to IMDb and check the external reviews where every reviewer seems to have abandoned their critical faculties. Without exception, all are heaping high praise on it, I'm guessing eager to laud this "tribute" to the fallen and their families. I thought it was a very poor telling of a potentially great story.
The actual"notifications" seemed equally clumsy as if the director and screen writer hadn't bothered to determine the actual procedure (from a website):
"I've been trained to do Casualty Assistance and Notification duties ... When the casualty affairs office receives notice of a death, they wait on positive identification, then they look at the soldier's records to find out who to notify. While this is going on, the Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) is informed that there was a death, and has to don the proper uniform (Class A) and go to the Casualty Affairs office for a briefing. Part of the briefing is to receive a statement containing the proper words to use to tell the primary next of kin (PNOK)..."
Incredible that these two misfits would be entrusted with such a sensitive assignment and in the case of the Sargent, with no training whatsoever. There was no briefing re the KIA, just a beeper. And instead of a customized message, it was the same canned speech in every case.
The bonding of the officer and EM seems highly unusual, apparently both living off base which was never referred to.The Iraq veteran's health status was introduced but never resolved and the pair in fatigues crashing and being accepted/included in the Iraq vet's ex-girlfriend's engagement party seemed especially forced and unreal.
So, I go to IMDb and check the external reviews where every reviewer seems to have abandoned their critical faculties. Without exception, all are heaping high praise on it, I'm guessing eager to laud this "tribute" to the fallen and their families. I thought it was a very poor telling of a potentially great story.
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