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We're so accustomed to seeing Michelle Monaghan in supporting roles, usually in romantic comedies, that we forget just how talented she really is. Leading dramatic roles haven't come often but when they have Monaghan has knocked them out of the park. In 2006 she earned a great deal of praise for her performance in Trucker, and she's earning equally strong reviews for Fort Bliss. Directed by Claudia Myers, the film stars Monaghan as a decorated Army medic who returns home after a 15-month tour only to have trouble acclimating to civilian life. Her 5-year-old son barely recognizes her, her ex-husband has a new woman, and another deployment looms on the horizon.
Authenticity abounds both in front of and behind the camera. Myers spent years directing short films for the U.S. military, while Monaghan worked closely with soldiers and parents to get a sense for how they've dealt with the pull of parenthood and duty. The film also deals with the subject of sexual assault against female servicewomen, a problem that has been revealed to be all too common of late. Along with my colleague Tim Gordon, I had a chance to talk with Monaghan about Fort Bliss, what she learned while researching the film, and working with Myers on her debut feature. Fort Bliss is in theaters now. You can check out my review here.
