In the Valley of Elah
Writer/director Paul Haggis has made a very good film with In the Valley of Elah. It is a suspenseful who dunnit. But it is also a statement on how war affects people.
Tommy Lee Jones, in probably the best performance of his career, play Hank Deerfield. Deerfield is a former army man with an outwardly hard exterior. Both of his sons joined the army. His older son was killed ten years prior. Now his younger son Michael is said to have gone AWOL. Deerfield cannot believe this about his son. So he goes on a journey to find out what happened. While conducting his investigation mutilated body parts are found. They are what remains of Michael.
Enter Det. Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron). She was previously uninterested in the case of the AWOL soldier but things have changed since it is apparent that he was murdered. Oh, and the army wants to be top dog in this investigation. So there is a conflict between them and the police.
There is no point in saying anything more about the plot. It is a good one and really held my interest. The usually stoic looking Jones looks as if he is about to break down at any moment.
Sorrow and pain is written all over his face. Theron also puts in a strong performance as a detective who is also a single mom. Susan Sarandon plays Deefield's wife Joan. She only has a few scenes but they are powerful ones. Your heart just breaks when she cries. She has lost both of her sons - there is nothing worse than that.
In the Valley of Elah explores how war affects those who fight. There is no question that they are changed people. How could they not be. And there is also a political message that is anti war. The last scene in the film says it all. Congratulations to Paul Haggis and all involved for making this fine film. I highly recommend it.
Tommy Lee Jones, in probably the best performance of his career, play Hank Deerfield. Deerfield is a former army man with an outwardly hard exterior. Both of his sons joined the army. His older son was killed ten years prior. Now his younger son Michael is said to have gone AWOL. Deerfield cannot believe this about his son. So he goes on a journey to find out what happened. While conducting his investigation mutilated body parts are found. They are what remains of Michael.
Enter Det. Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron). She was previously uninterested in the case of the AWOL soldier but things have changed since it is apparent that he was murdered. Oh, and the army wants to be top dog in this investigation. So there is a conflict between them and the police.
There is no point in saying anything more about the plot. It is a good one and really held my interest. The usually stoic looking Jones looks as if he is about to break down at any moment.
Sorrow and pain is written all over his face. Theron also puts in a strong performance as a detective who is also a single mom. Susan Sarandon plays Deefield's wife Joan. She only has a few scenes but they are powerful ones. Your heart just breaks when she cries. She has lost both of her sons - there is nothing worse than that.
In the Valley of Elah explores how war affects those who fight. There is no question that they are changed people. How could they not be. And there is also a political message that is anti war. The last scene in the film says it all. Congratulations to Paul Haggis and all involved for making this fine film. I highly recommend it.
posted by Film Fanatic | 3:36 PM
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