Home > Movies > Movie Review > In the Valley of Elah

In the Valley of Elah

Drama takes fresh, agonizing look at wartime woes

By Matt Pais

September 14, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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Shortly after coming home from war, Iraq soldier Mike Deerfield (Jonathan Tucker) disappears from a Tennessee army base and is soon found dead in a field nearby. His military vet father Hank (Tommy Lee Jones) leads his own search for answers when neither the military nor the cops can get it together. Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon also star.

Big question: Can writer Paul Haggis' directorial follow-up to "Crash," based on actual events, again stir people's heartstrings and take home a boatload of awards?

Catch it: Jones may have some nominations coming his way, as every new detail and flinch of his eyes reveals a man who needs to know the truth even if every question hurts. This is a different and devastating look at the residual effects of war, presenting the small pieces of purity its survivors and victims lose, whether or not the battle is won.

Skip it: If you're a firm believer in the story of "David and Goliath." The movie's title references the place where the underdog took down the giant—and then references the metaphor over and over again until we want to tell Haggis, "OK, man, we get it."

Bottom line: A tale of imperfect soldiers in an imperfect war, "Elah" turns nearly every plot point into a major issue but fortunately doesn't organize its characters by personality types like "Crash." Instead, Haggis confidently massages a top-notch ensemble into a study of investigations botched by procedural power struggles and fighters who die at home because of the horror they experienced overseas.

Bonus: Hank's tip about how to keep warm during wartime: man or woman, put on pantyhose. It's also great for those chilly winter months or anytime you just want to look stylish.

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