Movie Review

In the Valley of Elah

Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield, a former military man whose son Mike has recently gone missing after returning home from duty in Iraq. Leaving his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) to go in search of their son, Hank meets up with Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron), a police detective in the jurisdiction where Mike was last seen. Emily reluctantly agrees to help the distraught father but finds that her suspicions of this merely being a missing persons case couldn't be more wrong. Emily and Hank are soon confronted with military officials determined to take over the investigation, leaving Emily fighting to keep control. Meanwhile, as the truth about Mike's time in Iraq begins to emerge, Hank begins to call into question is own ideas and beliefs about the war.

"Elah" is the type of movie that doesn't really surprise as much as it reminds. We can tell it's an anti-war movie because, well, Hollywood doesn't really make the other kind, and it doesn't say anything that hasn't already been brought up several times before. The movie hits on familiar points. The war was a mistake. The boys, some too young to even drink a beer, going over there suffering emotional stress so intense that it warps them. The parents forced to lay in wait for word of their children's safety. "Elah" plays like a CSI-style murder mystery but its real genuine pull is the subject of sacrifice, something that should be brought to our attention every now and again.

The three lead performances are all fantastic, with Jones being a key standout. Jones brings a rugged earnestness to Hank, making him a character who's willing to listen but is not above taking matters into his own hands if necessary. There is also an ambiguous side to Hank that Jones carries very well. We never know just how influential Hank was in having his son go to Iraq, but every once and a while, what looks like an expression of guilt will cross his face. His scenes with Sarandon are very moving, perfectly capturing a long-suffering mother and wife. And Charlize Theron again erases all signs of femininity and turns in a powerful performance, although that approach is getting a little old for her isn't it. For once I'd like to see her play an actual hot chick.

She works here though and so does the movie. The performances, direction, and story are all pretty compelling and writer-director Paul Haggis (Crash) seems to have another good one to to put on his mantel. "Elah" is familiar but sometimes familiar can still be an important thing.

Craig's Grade: B

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%