In the Valley of Elah
From the Writer/Director of Best Picture Winner "Crash"
A war veteran (Tommy Lee Jones) and his wife (Susan Sarandon) search for their son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing, while a police detective (Charlize Theron) helps in the investigation.
Member Reviews
A fascinating story.... - Cricri7
This movie tells the story about the murder of a young soldier that has just come back from Irak. You follow the story from his body being discovered to the investigation that follows it. You then discover that it is not only a simple murder but encompasses a whole other story starting in Irak.
This movie has incredible actors. It is a very touching and moving story because you see the despair that those young soldiers go through when coming back from a war.A Very Subjective Review - Stitch
from the father of three adult sons. Because to me this is essentially a story of loss. First, of a son. Second, the slowly perceived erosion of values a father has built his life around as he realizes his son was not lost to an enemy. Because Iraq is not an enemy just as the criminal fiasco of Vietnam was not a war. The final flag scene to me was not a political statement; instead I saw it as the perfect personification of a grieving father’s realization and accusation of why young men were sacrificed.
Tommy Lee Jones gives in my opinion the performance of his career, very deserving of his Oscar nomination. And you can appreciate why Susan Sarandon received considerable mention even though her screen time is very brief. Between them, I had great difficulty hanging in there for some of the exchanges; their dialogue and sometimes its absence is gut wrenching. Someone somewhere described the long hallways scene as hokey--can I just say that the hallway from the loss of a child stretches a lifetime? And the depicted pause for mutual comfort is masterful and so believable.
The remainder including the mystery with its predictable official obfuscation suffers in comparison, replete with red herrings and action chases. Granted it's probably more entertaining for general audiences but would also suggest it’s the reason the overall production didn’t attract significant Academy or critical attention.
Charlize Theron is fine as a personable if somewhat idealized detective but the sidebar of female discrimination and its very predictable outcome is a distraction. That’s not to disparage the theme--save it for a another movie. Bottom line, there are two subject matters here and tacking a mystery/action thriller to a fine exploration of personal morality issues seriously dilutes the latter.
Two outstanding performances, commendable supporting cast. Had the potential to be Oscar worthy.
Absolutely inappropriate for children.Subtle Valley - BlackSheep
Soldier: Before I went, I would never say this, but if you ask me now, I’d say we just nuke ‘em all and watch it all turn back to dust.”
Before going to Iraq, a soldier would not likely even think this, let alone say it out loud in any serious manner. The times have changed though and eyes have seen more than any one pair should. Take Jo Anne’s husband for instance. He’s just returned from Iraq to Fort Rudd, New Mexico, a town built around its army base. You might think this would make Jo Anne very happy but, much to her dismay, this is just not the case. Instead, she doesn’t feel she still knows this changed man. When she goes to the police after he snaps a dog’s neck as punishment for biting, no one listens. Instead, they snicker at her. She is enraged but her anger is not enough to rattle any one out of their apathetic trance. Despite there being a clear need for Jo Anne’s husband to get help, there just isn’t anything to be done. He’s just another returning soldier whose mental stability has been fried under the Iraq sun. This is the side of America that is not often seen – a population exhausted by the weight of the war, be that by supporting it or questioning it or participating in it. And while the fighting is taking place overseas, writer/director Paul Haggis’ IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH aims to show America’s eyes what’s been happening in their homes while their focus was elsewhere.
With its simple tone and steady pace, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH laments the loss of America’s blanketed support and gusto for a war that was meant to protect their way of life and freedom. It is not so much a movie designed to criticize the decision to go to war in the first place. Haggis is too smart to give that tired argument. Instead, it is an expression of grief for the damage the war has weathered on the country, its citizens and the principals that it was initially meant to protect.
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Member Reviews
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A fascinating story.... - Cricri7
This movie tells the story about the murder of a young soldier that has just come back from Irak. You follow the story from his body being discovered to the investigation that follows it. You then discover that it is not only a simple murder but encompasses ...A Very Subjective Review - Stitch
from the father of three adult sons. Because to me this is essentially a story of loss. First, of a son. Second, the slowly perceived erosion of values a father has built his life around as he realizes his son was not lost to an enemy. Because Iraq is not ...Subtle Valley - BlackSheep
Soldier: Before I went, I would never say this, but if you ask me now, I’d say we just nuke ‘em all and watch it all turn back to dust.”
Before going to Iraq, a soldier would not likely even think this, let alone say it out loud in any serious manner. ...