Rating: R
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Tucker
Directed by: Paul Haggis

• Official Site

In the Valley of Elah brings a thought-provoking story to the screen that injects a disturbing look at the effects of the Iraq War. The startling film delves into the emotional factors that are a result of the war, and the loss that one family has to suffer. Tommy Lee Jones gives a terrific performance as ex-Army Officer Hank Deerfield, the spark that triggers a look at this unfortunate psychological anomaly.

{mosgoogle right}The plot, based on true events, follows Hank Deerfield (Jones), a retired Army policeman. When his son Mike Deerfield (Tucker), a model soldier, goes missing from his base after returning to the United States from Iraq, Hank’s investigative juices kick in and he heads for Fort Dodd, some 2000 miles away.

When he arrives on the scene the local police and the Military are deciding jurisdiction in a crime of which Mike is at the center. After coming to an impasse with the Military, Hank takes sides with city cop Emily Sanders (Theron) in a battle of wits that leads to uncovering the truth.

With this film, Director/writer Paul Haggis insinuates that the returning American forces from the Iraq War are no better off psychologically than Vietnam Vets. He uses a side plot about a young woman who gets no help after confronting local police about her Military husband’s abuse of their family pet, which later leads to a more tragic outcome, to make his point.

Haggis also shows us Iraq atrocities captured by the character Mike on his cell phone, which add to the reasons for the erratic behavior of returning soldiers. But like most ‘Hollywood’ attempts at changing our government’s minds about our involvement in other lands, Haggis’s statement made by the film will probably fall on deaf ears.

In the Valley of Elah is a good film for those looking for a good drama. Outstanding performances by Jones, Theron and Sarandon (Hank’s wife Joan) carry the controversial plot. While Jones and Sarandon brilliantly bring out the strong convictions of parenthood with their defense and remorse for their child, it’s Theron’s convincing portrayal of a rookie detective who doesn’t give up that makes the film work.

---

Comments

Add New Search RSS

Jay   |2007-09-13 09:08:15 My brother went to Iraq and he is way different than he was before he left. He doesn't talk much about it. This is def a movie i want to go see. Reply 0   0

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."