Movie Review: In The Valley Of Elah

Hank Deerfield gets a call telling him his son is AWOL from his recent tour of Iraq. Deerfield, a retired military investigator, immediately starts an investigation, knowing his son would call him when arriving back from tour. Deerfield encounters little help in investigating what happened to his son. The anti-war screenplay of “In the Valley of Elah” shows the complexity of war, the after effects of war on soldiers and the lack of support our troops face on their return home.

Watching Tommy Lee Jones you understand why he was nominated for an Oscar for this performance. This is a layered, complex performance by Jones and well worth watching. I have to wonder why Charlize Theron did not get nominated, hers is a powerhouse performance that deserved recognition. The war backflashes work seamlessly with the current day scenes, adding to the power of the movie. With outstanding direction, screenplay and a strong supporting cast including excellent performances by Susan Sarandon and Jason Patric, this is a film not to be missed.

2007. Screenplay written and directed by Paul Haggis. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, Jason Patric, James Franco and Josh Brolin.

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