Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in 'The Messenger' -- 'Top Line' at the Movies

October 30, 2009 3:09 PM

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

They're some of the grimmest jobs imaginable: Soldiers assigned to deliver the worst of news to the families of service members who die in the line of duty.

In the new film "The Messenger," which opens Nov. 13, Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster play two officers on casualty-notification duty, in a clear-eyed exploration of the human costs of war.

Harrelson, who's been outspoken about his opposition to the war in Iraq, and Foster, who's been more private about his personal views, said on ABCNews.com's "Top Line" today that they hope the film makes people think about what war means.

Click HERE to see the full discussion with Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster.

"What the movie does is shine a light on the consequences of going to war," Harrelson said. "I don't think it really makes a political statement one way or another, but I think it is important to know what's going on, or to have a feeling … to humanize what's going on."

Added Foster: "The most that I could ever ask participating in a film is that people can have a conversation afterwards. And everyone that's seen this picture so far -- be it people who serve in the military or out, affected or not -- can have a conversation. And if we can dialogue a little bit about the consequences of war, then our awareness strengthens. So I'm optimistic."

Both actors spent time with soldiers who've performed these duties, and both visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of their research.

"[We] talked to a lot of people who do it and they say you know, it is the worst job in the Army.  They'd rather be in combat than doing this," Harrelson said.

The exploration of the human costs of war is particularly relevant given President Obama's current deliberations regarding new troop levels in Afghanistan. This week, the president himself made an emotional visit to Dover Air Force Base to witness the solemn ceremony that greets the arrival of soldiers' caskets on American soil.

"I think it's an incredible thing -- you know?" Harrelson said. "What president wanted to do that? Bush made it illegal to show the coffins you know. I think it's a really courageous thing and you can tell that the president is really weighing this concept of escalation heavily."

Media access to Dover was banned for 18 years, until President Obama took office this year, under a policy first imposed by President George H.W. Bush during the first Gulf War.

And if President Obama sends more troops to Afghanistan? "That'll be unfortunate, I think, if that happens," Harrelson said.

We also checked in with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who talked about the status of health care reform, and how the president is approaching his decision on Afghanistan.

"I think the question is … how many troops the president decides to send. Is it the 10 or 12,000 that people like Sen. Carl Levin have called for? That would largely be focused on training Afghan forces? Or will he decide to give the joint chiefs [and] Gen. [Stanley] McChrystal exactly what they're asking for, the 40,000 that's in their recommendation? I wouldn't be surprised if there was something where he approved 10,000 immediately, and then set up some kind of processed bench marks that if they're met more troops would be sent later on down the road," Stephanopoulos said.

On "This Week" Sunday, Stephanopoulos will explore those issues and more with presidential adviser and longtime Obama friend Valerie Jarrett. On the roundtable: George Will, former Clinton White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie, Ron Brownstein of National Journal, and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

We also shared a piece of Jonathan Karl's latest "Subway Series" installment, where Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., made some interesting comments about his vote on health care, and the likelihood that he'll support Republican congressional candidates in 2010. You can see the full video HERE.