In the Valley of Elah (2007)

Fresh and Exciting

Absolutely the worst movie.

A Masterpiece!

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Released in 2007 and directed & written by Paul Haggis, "In the Valley of Elah" is a crime drama/mystery inspired by the real-life case of Richard T. Davis. The story revolves around an elderly Tennessee couple (Tommy Lee Jones & Susan Sarandon) who get word that their son has gone missing from his base in New Mexico shortly after his return from Iraq. A retired military investigator, Hank Deerfield (Jones) goes to the base to find out the awful truth. Charlize Theron plays the civilian detective near the base who tries to help Hank while Jason Patric plays the Army counterpart. Josh Brolin is on hand as the town police chief. This is a slow-burn mystery highlighted by great acting by the principles, especially Jones, and a thoroughly realistic story, which isn't surprising seeing as how it's based on true events. Speaking of which, I was surprised to find out that the basic details of the story are all accurate. The actual events took place in the Fort Benning area of Georgia rather than the fictitious Fort Rudd, NM.The movie's not anti-Iraq War, but rather anti-PTSD; it merely reveals the awful truth about war in general: When we send our young men off to far-off lands where brutal warfare is normal they can bring that desensitized mentality back with them where the barbaric behavior that might be acceptable in war is anything but normal or conducive to a successful life, to say the least. Add the idiocy of alcohol abuse to the mix of PTSD and the results almost certainly WON'T be good. The title refers to the valley where David, as a teen, fought and defeated the utterly intimidating Goliath from 1 Samuel 17. ADDITIONAL ACTORS: James Franco, Wes Chatham, Jake McLaughlin, Mehcad Brooks and Roman Arabia play soldiers who knew Deerfield's son while Frances Fisher has a curious cameo (you'll know what I mean).The film runs 121 minutes and was shot in Whiteville, Tennessee, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, with Morocco substituting for Iraq.GRADE: B

"In the Valley of Elah" is a 2007 film directed by Paul Haggis, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon. The title comes from the story of David and Goliath, which Jones tells Theron's little boy.Jones plays an ex-military police officer, Hank Deerfield, now retired, who looks into his son's disappearance after he returned home from Iraq. His son, Mike, is in danger of being AWOL. Hank finds it odd that his son didn't contact him when he returned stateside. His wife (Susan Sarandon) is concerned, too, as they lost their other son who was in the military as well.He is unable to get answers or help. The cops say it's not their jurisdiction, and if Hank goes to the military police, Mike stands to get into more trouble. Unfortunately, his son's body, carved to pieces and burnt, is found in a field. The military takes over the case, but Hank's investigation indicates his son was actually killed on non-military property and his body dragged to another area. So the police take it over, headed by Det. Emily Sanders. A victim of jibes at her job for being a woman, she's anxious to prove herself.The story that they uncover is horrific. It's a story of desensitization to violence, trauma that leads to drug addiction and drunkenness.It's also a story of one man's point of view and definition of manhood, which is challenged by what he learns. "You took both my boys," Hank's wife sobs. "Couldn't you have left me one?" Susan Sarandon's heartbreaking performance is a real standout in a role that, in the hands of a lesser actress, would have seemed like what it was - a small part.Tommy Lee Jones underplays the role of Hank, a man who has always been a "man" and not shown his feelings. But all of the anguish is on his hardened, determined face. Someone on this board said Charlize Theron "looked bad" for her role. I should look so bad. She is an obviously beautiful woman who deglamorized herself with pulled-back dark hair and casual clothing. She looked appropriate for the role she played and didn't resort to obvious stereotypes like glasses and heavy eyebrows. She gives a good performance, that of a woman who realizes that she, too, has become desensitized to violence and cries for help.This movie took a real hit on this board, at least in the message part. Sure, there was no need for the last scene. Considering all the CGI blockbusters without much in the way of characterizations out there, I'll take a well-directed, sincere story like this any day.

Unlike many films based around the Iraqi War, In the Valley of Elah is not really a political-based movie at all and is more of a thorough murder mystery. If one doesn't pay enough attention, people may view the film as pacifist or anti-military. But on a closer look, this film is a fascinating study on the human condition of soldiers as they return to the homefront after a brutal war. In that aspect, this film is emotional as any and perhaps this will bring light to everyone's eyes. As the film itself, it is incredibly well-made and the acting is fantastic starting with the ever-great Tommy Lee Jones.Paul Haggis, the director known for 2005's Best Picture Winner Crash, directs a film about a Vietnam veteran named Hank Greenfield who finds out his son has returned from overseas, but has not been home yet. When Hank goes out to search for his son, he uncovers something much more than he had bargained for.The acting is excellent. The film plays to the strength of Tommy Lee Jones's personality. A grumpy man who rarely smiles and as always, Jones blasts his performance out of the water. Charlize Theron does a good job as the cop who is working alongside Jones. Susan Sarandon is great as the grieving wife of Jones. We also have some good cameos by James Franco and Josh Brolin.Overall, In the Valley of Elah is a smart, well-scripted drama/mystery film. It may seen anti-war at first, but it's just a study on the psychological mess soldiers suffer. It's not propaganda, it's just the truth. I understood what Haggis was trying to say, unlike many people who take the message out of proportion. It's very powerful and it will pack a heavy punch with your emotions, so be prepared. It's not for light-viewing, but it uses a powerful story to deliver the message. I rate this film 10/10.

The problems facing our Military Men in Iraq and Afghanistan when they finally come Home are somewhat different than the Vietnam Vets. This is exemplified in the Film by the Father (a Vietnam Vet) and a super Patriot who is obviously not a Happy Man. His inner Demons manifest in a depression that is painfully internal and is displayed by a cold, detached, withdrawn, and steely demeanor. But, He is more functional than dysfunctional.That cannot be said about the Iraq Vets in this Movie. They are anything but and are almost Automatons void of empathy or emotion, Personality less like something out of a Video Game. It takes only the push of a button to engage the rage and the consequences are not pretty for anyone in range.This is played out here in a "based on true events" Murder Mystery and it takes the Viewer along accompanied by a downbeat. It is a perplexing and ultimately depressing denouement and its Anti-War, Pro-People message is anything but subtle. There are some things, like the Video Footage that is as damaged as the Soldier behind the Camera, that are handled with a heavy hand, red herrings that seem out of step, and in the end the message becomes muted from a Filmmaker who seems uncomfortable with the material. Ditto the Audience.