krocheav Surprisingly thoughtful treatment that highlights the destruction of those who are being continually brutalized - at the expense of an essentially un-ending war the USA is determined to run to its end - for better or worse. This productions studied approach lifts it above some others that have attempted to encourage us to take a far closer look at this war and the hideous dehumanization it brings - not just to the war zone, but equally and frighteningly to the home front!The combination of screenplay writer/director Paul Haggis, story writer Mark Boal and British born director of Photography (the hugely talented Roger Deakin's) along with a sterling cast of superb professionals, compel us to keep looking, thinking, asking questions and, considering all the motivational causes that lead to this gut wrenching, based on shocking facts situation. The war machine and all who ultimately play along with war games are deservedly brought to question and, we all have a good idea who they are...Gruelling but in a quiet and thoughtful manner (with unfortunately the now expected but not always necessary, over-use of explicative's) this drama is more purposeful than many others and recommended for the thinking viewer. Important points are solidly scored by the scenes of girls dancing around poles in sleazy clubs - offering a stark contrast to the way the flag on the pole is used in the finale, as it silently screams about the pathways to moral degradation trodden by modern warfare and society.

Ross622 Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah" is inspired by the true story of Lanny Davis a Georgia man who was searching for his son Richard after he returned from Iraq and never returned home to his family and then does his own investigation with the help of detectives in order to find him. The film stays true to the story and sequence of events but the names of the characters and the locations have been changed. In the movie the name of the father is Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) who finds out one morning that his son Mike (Jonathan Tucker) has returned from the Iraq war and never returned home. The next morning Deerfield gets a call from the military that he had returned from his tour of duty and then tells his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) about it and then tells he that he is going to drive to Fort Rudd, New Mexico to take a look into things himself, despite Joan's pleas to go with him and her saying that the drive will last two days and Hank simply responds to her by saying "not the way I'll drive it." When he gets to the Fort he has a look at his sons room and sees that there are no signs that the bed was slept in and pocketed his son's cell phone to see if he can get any major information out of the phone. then he goes to a local police station and meets a young detective named Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) who helps him try to find his son and later they find out that he was killed and his remains dismembered and burned on desert terrain and under some dry bushes and tumbleweeds. After the body is found it is up to them to find out who killed Mike Deerfield, and everything from this point I will not spoil because it is too crucial to the story. This movie is Paul Haggis' second film as a director and out of this one and "The Next Three Days" (2010) which is the only other film I saw out of his directing resume this one is the absolute best out of the two. Jones, Theron, and Sarandon all give standout performances along with supporting cast members such as Jason Patric, James Franco, and Josh Brolin as well as many others. Jones gives one of the very best performances of his career and as a result earned an Oscar nomination for his profoundly moving work living up to Humphrey Bogart's quote that "The only thing an actor owes to the public is a good performance." Which is a quote that is always true for any entertainer, the screenplay by Haggis and Mark Boal is very well written and also well thought out. When I finished watching it I originally thought that the movie had political leanings but when I thought it over I found that the characters were angry with the military for not doing anything to prevent the crime that was the focus of the story of this movie. Also due to the fact that this is one of 2007's finest films.

jb_campo In the Valley of Elah is a poignant film that deadpans its way to impact you. The cast list shows many people in the film, but in reality, this is a duet with Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, with some cameos by Jason Patric as the military agent, and Susan Sarandon as the mother. TL Jones is ex military all the way, and he EXUDEs ex-military in his demeanor, his talk, and his habits. He was also an MP, so he knows how to go about an investigation. His youngest son Mike was in the middle east and has returned home. Suddenly they receive a call that Mike is AWOL if he does not show up by the end of the weekend.Jones drives all night to the town where Mike's base is, and starts a search. He figures Mike is letting off some steam. What happens next shakes him, and his relationship with is wife, to its core. Jones maintains his military demeanor, while inside he's being ripped apart.This is a tour de force performance from Tommy Lee Jones, for which he received a nomination for an Academy award as best actor, along with a slew of other nominations. You can tell he loves his son deeply, but that he understands the stresses of the military. His emotions show that yep, perhaps he did stuff his son did. And sadly, maybe he even went down other paths that he just won't talk about to anyone. This film is a monument to the often silent love and respect between a father and a son, no matter what happens. It was fantastic to see this played out with such depth and economy of acting. Equally excellent was Charlize Theron. For once she was not pimped out to exude her womanhood. In fact, she was made to look like a regular person, which allowed her acting skills to pour out because she wasn't trying to look cool or act cool. She was just trying to act the part. She played the police officer who has no respect from her fellow male officers who constantly taunt or joke on her. Until she shows them how smart she really is. And later shows them how far ahead of them she read tragic events that they laughed at her for. As a single mother, she's reliving almost the young Mike of TL Jones, and learning about the bond between a mother and her son, and how that too is important. The father being gone it seems.In the Valley of Elah is not quick paced. There's not a lot the happens. The story is even pretty simple. But the acting, wow, it's terrific. Susan Sarandon as the mother hits all the right notes too. I won't rate this a must-see, but it's pretty darn good if you want a film that examines the complicated combination of the military mixed with a father/son relationship that gets strained, but never broken, and eventually, albeit sadly, uplifted. Enjoy.

andrewspg152 I'm nearly 60 so I'll shoot from the hip on this one. This is a film for adults. Its a film for people who've been through life and its experiences, who've been through wars, and who know a bit about human nature.Its slow, painstaking and often painful. Its realistic, sometimes horribly so. And yet its one of the most thoughtful and intelligent films of recent years. Its not for the whiz kid or the whoopee brigade. But it should be shown at every high school and military academy. At least give the kids some idea of what another reality in the world can be like if adults mess up, when adults mess up.Tommy Lee Jones is superb. Susan Sarandon is exceptional in the restrained playing of her supporting role. Charlize Theron complements TLJ very nicely. But its his movie. Its what he's best at, taking command and getting the job done with a gruff but real sympathy and humanity. I'll be really sorry when he retires.Its easily a 10. I won't say more. I'll let the film speak for itself.