In the Valley of Elah - Casualty of War
In the Valley of Elah A-
Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon
Written and Directed by Paul Haggis (Crash)
Rated R for violent and disturbing content, language and some sexuality/nudity
Appropriate for ages 18+
The Story: Former military MP hank Deerfield (Jones) receives a call one night to inform him that his son has returned from Iraq and has been reported AWOL. Upon arriving at the base, he discovers that his only living son has been violently murdered. Not satisfied with the results of the investigation, he teams up with a local police detective (Theron) to get to the root of what happened to his child.
The Good: Writer/director Paul Haggis has a real gift for words and this screenplay is one of his best. Only a master story teller can craft this kind of tale and make it watchable. This is a rough movie to have to endure, but it didn't seem like an ordeal. It helps that you have the amazing Tommy Lee Jones in a role that he was born for. I do find it very interesting that Theron took such a back seat role as this, and I am very thankful that she didn't use her Oscar power to try to muscle in for more story. Above all, though, is the power of the film. You can't help but be touched by the movie and it's message.
The Bad: This is sure to be a rally cry for anti-war sentiment and those with opposite opinions might find themselves second-guessing. While the film will prove to be too preachy for some, it doesn't shove liberal democrat down your throat in the way you might think.
Those with a weak stomach will want to stay away due to the graphic nature of the pic. The images were almost too gross for me at times, and I know that there are many that could lose their popcorn during several of the more intense moments of the film.
The Summary: This sobering detective pic gives a very disturbing viewpoint of the effects of the war on our troops.
Comments