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In the Valley of Elah | 
 enlarge | Director: Paul Haggis
Actors: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, James Franco
Studio: Warner Independent Pictures
Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Rating:  94 reviews
Sales Rank: 5567
Genre: Drama
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 122 Minutes
ASIN: B0014B8KTC
Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 2007
Release Date: September 29, 2008
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| Synopsis:
From Academy Award-winning writer Paul Haggis ("Letters from Iwo Jima," "Million Dollar Baby") comes this story of a model soldier who goes missing after he returns home to the United States after serving in Iraq. Desperate to solve the mystery behind their son's disappearance, his father, also a war Veteran, and mother seek the help of seasoned police detective Emily Sanders to uncover his true fate. The powerhouse cast includes Academy Award-winners Tommy Lee Jones ("The Fugitive," "Space Cowboys"), Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking," "Thelma & Louise") and Charlize Theron ("North Country," "Monster"). |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 A Masterpiece! February 6, 2008
Tristan
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
There have been many films about the aftermath of war, but never have I seen such a brutally honest and shocking depiction of the de-humanization of soldiers back from war. This is the underlying premise of the new crime thriller from academy award winning writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash).
Hank Deerfield (played by Tommy Lee Jones) is a retired veteran and military police officer searching for his son who has gone AWOL. A detective Emily Sanders (played by Charlize Theron) becomes interested in the case and starts helping Hank outside of her job. When Hank's son's body is found, the search suddenly turns into a search for the murderer.
One of the many aspects I appreciated was that director Haggis did not turn this into a typical Hollywood crime thriller and also not turn it into a political propaganda piece against the war and President Bush. Instead he mixes the two plots together seamless and subtle, letting you decide for your self.
Tommy Lee Jones gives the best performance of his long career as he plays a quiet, emotionless war vet, but still shows tremendous amount of emotion. Just watching his face as he sits in a diner and listens to one of his retired friends tell him about plans to go visit his grandchildren is heartbreaking. We can almost see the internal emotional struggle as he realizes he will never be able to do that. Charlize Theron does a wonderful job as the detective, and despite her small screen time Susan Surandon plays the grieving wife of Jones to perfection.
This film is such a moving masterpiece on so many levels it is simply wonderful to watch. The quiet pacing of the film building up to the climax is captivatingly intense in its own way. I am sure this will be a popular film at the Oscars this year, and if they gave out awards for best scene this would be sure to garner a nomination for a simple, poignant, yet profoundly moving scene when Frank tells the story of David and Goliath (which took place in the Valley of Elah) to the little son of detective Sanders.
A Terrifyingly Honest Examination of the Effects of War February 21, 2008
Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States)
27 out of 38 found this review helpful
As this country continues to struggle with the tragedies inflicted upon all who are being singed and scorched by the Iraq War (and that includes every citizen of this country, whether directly or indirectly), films addressing this war are wither avoided by the theatrical audiences or cause flare reactions of judgment. Into this milieu writer (with Mark Boal) and director Paul Haggis places this painful examination of the effects and aftershocks of war in the persona of a father whose only son is reported as 'missing' after he has returned from his tour of duty in Iraq. By keeping the story focused on the effect of the devastation on one man Haggis makes his point all the more clear, and the result is one of the finest documents of the insanity of war that has been released in some years.
Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) has served in the military and encouraged both his sons to serve their country (much against the emotional reaction of his wife Joan - Susan Sarandon): his older son is killed in a helicopter crash and his younger son, recently returned from a year's duty in Iraq, is reported as missing. Hank drives to the base where his son was stationed, learns of his son's death 'by friendly fire' at home, and tries t enlist the help of the military to investigate the affair without success. He encounters a sullen police detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) who appears bruised by life in general and by her prejudiced co-workers and military men in particular. Gradually Emily sides with the grieving Hank to explore the horrid details of Hank's son's brutal murder, dismemberment and burning. Despite endless barriers of red tape and military secrecy lead by Lt. Kirklander (Jason Patric) both Emily and Hank slowly piece together the truth, using email videos Hank's son had sent him from Iraq, interviews with Hank's son's fellow soldiers, and examination of the body parts of Hank's son. Once the truth is out the effects on all concerned reveal the inevitable permanent scars of war on all concerned. Yet it is the strength of character as revealed in Hank's responses that drive home the pungent message of this difficult film.
Tommy Lee Jones gives the most subtle performance of his fine career as the grieving yet stoic Hank. Charlize Theron once again proves that she can disappear into a demanding role like few other actresses. Susan Sarandon, Jason Patric, James Franco (in a tiny but pivotal role), Josh Brolin, Frances Fisher (in a cameo that is very impressive), and all the young men who play the soldiers involved in the investigation are superb. The film pulls no punches, yet it also refrains from sensationalizing events - as though Haggis realized that the truth was viciously cruel enough without embellishment. Special mention should be paid to the fine musical score by Mark Isham, a pulsating, minimalist background that heightens the effect of the film. This may be a difficult film to watch but it is a necessary experience if we are to constantly re-evaluate our philosophy of war and intervention. Grady Harp, February 08
A Magnificient Anti War Film! May 23, 2008
Andre Heeger (Hamburg, Germany)
16 out of 23 found this review helpful
Ex MP Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones in one of his best roles) once had two sons. The first one got killed in a war, the second one has gone missing after he returned from Iraq.
Without thinking twice or discussing things with his wife (Susan Sarandon) Hank goes looking for him.
But he is not prepared for the dirty truths that come to light. It doesn't take him long to realize that the young man he is looking for has changed. With the help of a few blurry shots and videos from his son Mike's mobile phone and a local detective (also very impressive: Charlize Theron) he is able to dig deeper into his son's past. Not only has Iraq destroyed a large part of Mike's psyche, it has also changed his life for the worse. Boredom, booze, drugs, strip clubs and more boredom, booze and drugs have invaded the young man's life.
Mike is found, or what is left of him. He was brutally murdered.
In the end the case is solved but the lives of all (including yours) will be changed forever.
I want to point out that for me this was NOT an anti military film. Although the army isn't always shown in its best light, the director Paul Haggis tries to show us a neutral vision on what happens when young men are exposed to the cruelty of war.
True, the army looks a little helpless. Bound by rules and regulations and afraid to lose the trust and support of the American people, they try to protect the soldiers by withholding statements and manipulating the investigation. But that is all understandable.
This film is anti war (and anti racist). No matter where you look, either the Deerfield family or Mike's army buddies, so many lives lost and destroyed all because of war.
It will stay with you forever. The acting is state of the art, camera, directing and script terrific.
With Blu-ray and HDDVD you have the story jumping into your living room - which I believe is what it deserves.
As an extra there is a small heart wrenching storyline involving Mike's ex-girlfriend (who is not in the theatrical version of the movie) and interviews with the co-stars who play the army buddies, most of which have served in Iraq thus knowing exactly what this is all about. My utmost respect goes out to these young men.
Nicely paced and intelligent May 29, 2008
Stephen Borrow (Sydney Australia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a nicely paced, intelligent and well acted movie that gives the three principal A listed actors, Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susana Sarandon ample opportunity to display their remarkable skills. Susan Sarandon, as always, plays a strong supporting role as Tommy's distressed wife. Tommy Lee, in particular, is outstanding in this. His trademark masculinity is perfectly suited to this portrayal of a former soldier in search of his son, suspected at first of being AWOL after a tour of duty in Iraq. Tommy gets to discover the whole truth with the assistance of Charlize's character, a jaded female cop, a good woman struggling with a cuture of apathy and male chauvanism. She makes a few bad calls earlier that dramatically come back to haunt her later on. Her relationship with Tommy is tense at first, but she eventually sees the light and joins with him in his battle to find the truth, notwithstanding resistance from colleagues and the military police who seem intent on a cover up. This is not a cops and robbers type story. It is primarily about the dehumanising consequences of miltarism for the young men who serve. The director isn't forcing his ideas on the viewer, but allowing the story to unfold naturally. There is a particularly poignant piece of symbolism involving the stars and stripes. Earlier in the film, Tommy sees a fellow trying to raise Old Glory upside down after allowing it to dangle on the ground. He gently explains the proper protocol involved in respectfully honouring this proud symbol of the American nation. Towards the very end of the movie, however, and after discovering the truth about his son's dreadful murder, the flag raising is repeated. This time Tommy hangs it upside down as he explain the symbolic meaning of doing so: "It means," he says, "we are in serious trouble and all hope is lost" - or words to that effect. A very special film with similar cadences to Wim Wender's little masterpiece, "Land of Plenty".
memorable Tommy Lee Jones February 24, 2008
Flight Risk (The Gypsy Moth) (usa)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
In recent years, there has been little film work by Tommy Lee Jones that has not been worthy of viewing. Nominated for an Oscar for this movie, though he probably will lose, he is well deserving.
In the wee hours of the morning, occasionally a movie will totally capture my interest and sleep becomes a secondary concern. This was such a film. Tommy Lee Jones, portraying the father of a soldier, receives a phone message from the young man's base in the Southwest advising the father of the soldier's AWOL status. The father, Hank, sure that the young man is still in Iraq, realizes something is seriously wrong and embarks upon his own investigation of his son's disappearance.
This story was based on actual events, which adds poignancy to the film. Hank, an ex-military man himself, who still lives by military code and formality, immediately drives to his son's base to find out what happened. The boy's mother, played by Susan Sarandon, is equally strong but has a limited part in the film. Hank uncovers questionable activity as soon as he arrives - things he didn't believe his son of being involved with; but suspends disbelief in the interests of arriving at the truth. He uncovers the seamier side of soldiers at play, bolstered by a camera cell phone of his son's that he surreptitiously lifts while visiting his son's Army quarters.
He enlists the assistance of Charlize Theron, in another unglamorous role for her as a homicide detective; she somewhat mirrors aspects of her "North Country" role as a strong, smart woman up against the boorish macho boys on her squad, stuck doing the pathetic oddball cases of homicide until Hank's son turns up dismembered and burned in a field near the base. Hank, who desperately needs an ally in a place where no one knows him, no one wants to help him, and where the true tale is being covered up anyway, gets through Charlise's character's wall of defense, and between them they find a world neither really wanted to discover; how war, in the present age, desensitizes, dulls the senses of right and wrong, makes monsters of people who were children only bare years before.
If Tommy Lee Jones gets the Oscar for this movie, it will be well-earned; with his dogged determination to get at the truth, he spares his character nothing, and follows every lead. He probably would have made an outstanding detective. Charlize, also, continues to prove that she is not just a pretty face, but a savvy and effective dramatic actor. This was a very good film.
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