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RATING: 2/5 Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, James Franco, Barry Corbin, Josh Brolin
Director: Paul Haggis
Genre: Drama
MPAA: rated R for violent and disturbing content, language and some sexuality/nudity. Protect Your PC
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Nudity: R equivalent; scene of male nudity, scene of female full (exotic dancing), scene of female upper
Profanity: R equivalent; approx. 30 “F” words, approx. 60 profanities
Sex: R equivalent; sexual dialogue
Violence: R equivalent; dismemberment, crime scene photos, decapitation, corpses
Other: PG-13 equivalent; drug reference
“You know what it means when a flag flies upside down? It’s an international distress signal. It means we’re in a whole lot of trouble so come save our assess we don’t have a prayer in hell of saving ourselves.” Retired military officer Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) has just been informed his son, a soldier just back from Iraq, has gone AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave). Deerfield begins his own search mission attempting to recruit help from recently promoted detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron). But then Deerfield receives the knock on his door: “Sir, I regret to inform you that a body was found last night…” Now, a grieving father wants answers—he son physically survived the war but is brutally murdered and burned while on US soil. Why? He joins forces with detective Sanders to find the truth. AGE-DEFYING DUO - SAVE
$13 If anything In the Valley of Elah is a preachy film, using this platform as an opportunity to communicate its views on the Iraq war: “Should just nuke it and watch it all turn to dust.” An ongoing theme here is that war, particularly the Iraq War, distorts and cripples the minds of its soldiers, returning a different son than the son that left; this has been noted throughout the years, so no new revelations in this effort from the director of Crash. A more effective approach would have been pursuing character development surrounding this grieving father, skillfully portrayed by Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive). The greatest moments are those showcasing a distressed, worn Tommy Lee Jones, purposed to close the chapter on his son’s life. He can’t comprehend how a man could physically survive war and be found dismembered in the valley after his release; he wants to believe his son did not die in vain, not over some petty crime. There are many moments when it seems evident we are to experience something significant, compelling. The mystery and intrigue is immediately set, Tommy Lee Jones is at his best. Unfortunately personal convictions compromise the quality and we are denied a fine effort. “War is not the answer” has been shouted from every rooftrop, lawn, blog since we invaded Iraq; everyone seems to have an opinion these days even, especially filmmakers. Although I am personally anti-war (peace and happiness is my mentality), I am consciously incapable of looking the other way when my neighbors’ house is burning, when freedoms are threatened. At that moment it is time to take up arms and stand ground, firmly on the beliefs and ethics of those before us, our forefathers. So when soldiers leave behind the comforts we take advantage of, kiss their girlfriends, their wives for the last time, and enter unknown territory, obviously terrified and homesick, to protect us and our neighbors, and meanwhile filmmakers and self righteous politicians, frankly deliver their views, oppositions while brave men and women are dying…it angers me. Apparently these people don’t have any issues communicating that, in their opinions, our troop’s presence, and their lost lives are all in vain. Paul Haggis’ previous directional effort was the Academy Award winning film Crash, featuring Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon and Don Cheadle. As a writer Haggis has made a name for himself, penning memorable screenplays like Letters from Iwo Jima (Ken Watanabe), Casino Royale (Daniel Craig), Flags of Our Fathers (Ryan Philippe), The Last Kiss (Zach Braff) and Academy Award winner Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood). In this outing, the weakest of his recent efforts, Haggis makes it clear his position on war. 
Pretty-faced Charlize Theron (North Country), a former “100 Sexiest Women in the World”, showed us she is more than just a sex symbol with her 2004 Oscar win for Monster. Since her Oscar win the actress has pursued serious roles like North Country (an Oscar nomination for the actress), Head in the Clouds and In the Valley of Elah. With exception to the two leads, Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, the remaining cast is underused, in irrelevant, insignificant roles: Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), Jason Patric (The Alamo), James Franco (Spider-Man 3) and Josh Brolin (American Gangster). Sarandon, one time Academy Award winner and four time Academy Award nominee, is one of today’s finest performers and yet In the Valley of Elah fails to utilize her talents. It’s like cruising the 400hp Dodge Viper without feeling that thunder. In the Valley of Elah is carried by the powerful Texan shoulders of Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones.
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