This heart-rending tale also is a mesmerizing one because of several superb performances, particularly those of Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson as soldiers with the dreaded assignment of notifying family that their loved ones have died in battle.

Foster plays a returning war hero who must adjust not only to life back in the USA, but also to being dumped by his longtime girlfriend (Jena Malone). He also must contend with being cursed, screamed at, spat upon and worse when he delivers the worst possible news to parents and spouses of soldiers.

Foster, a stellar character actor, is magnificent in a rare lead role as Army Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery, a decorated veteran of the Iraq War. Montgomery is tapped by Capt. Tony Stone (Harrelson), a much more hardened party-hearty type fellow, to join him in the army's casualty-notification service. Will, in contrast, is emotionally shut down.

Unexpectedly, Will finds his detachment softening with the kind and compassionate reaction he receives from Olivia (Samantha Morton), a young mother to whom he delivers the news of her husband's death. Morton, as always, gives a subtle, excellent performance.

This is a wholly different look at the fallout of the Iraq War and its effect on soldiers and civilians. It is also a gentle portrait of grief, friendship and solace.

Director Oren Moverman and co-writer Alessandro Camon have brought a sense of gritty authenticity to this somber, hard-hitting tale that is simultaneously deeply poignant.

It serves as a powerful companion piece to The Hurt Locker, the most powerful movie about the Iraq War and one of the year's best.

Enlarge Oscilloscope Laboratories Woody Harrelson stars as an officer who notifies families when their loved ones who serve in the military are killed in action.