In the Valley of Elah Reviews

I remember it very well, back then, in 2005, when ‘Crash’ won the oscar for the best picture it was a big scandal. Everyone thought that ‘Brokeback Mountain’ was pretty much a shoe-in to win whereas some loved ‘Crash’ and some hated it. Personally, I neither really loved it or hated it and I thought it was a decent movie but it was definitely not great and it had some huge flaws. Anyway, after that, Paul Haggis directed this movie and very few people actually noticed it when it was released. I think it’s a shame because it is actually a very good flick. Indeed, first of all, there was some terrific casting with Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron on top of their game and the story was rather fascinating. I would go as far as saying that it is the best movie about the Irak war that I have seen so far. Indeed, in my opinion, it is quite a spellbinding thriller which gives some interesting insights about post-traumatic syndrom following a war or any military duties. To conclude, even though it is pretty much forgotten nowadays, it is actually a very good flick and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

As I was watching this movie, I thought they couldn't have picked a better person for the lead with Tommy Lee Jones. He plays the tough SOB really well and makes you really not want to be on his bad side. His character leads us through the story and Jones carries the movie all the way.

On the surface this movie is a murder mystery with the backdrop of soldiers returning from Iraq to give it a lot of spice. The military side of the story shows the red tape and politics that goes on with the military not wanting to lose face. It also gives you a brief glimpse at some of the horrible things that take place in a war zone such as Iraq. Anyone that has been in the military can empathize here.

When you look at this movie on a deeper level you see a father finding out things about a child that he probably was never meant to see or hear about. I kept thinking about some of the things I did when I was in the Marine Corps and let me tell you I hope my parents never find about them. The more Jones digs into finding out about what happened to his son, he sees a side of him that he never would dream could have taken place.

The emotions run very high in this movie. It is very powerful and shocking at times. This movie is on cable in my area right now but is worth the price of a rental. Be prepared to ride an emotional roller coaster when watching this one.

Flash

Make no mistake about it; your view of the Iraq War will likely determine how you feel about this film.

In a word, this film is moving. Few non-documentary films have been so impactual. Personally, this film gave me a renewed compassion for those soldiers who are sent to war.

While this film does have its messages, it's not necessarily beating its chest trying to be an anti-war film. It is much more about the reality of what happens to many soldiers when they come home and the damaging, emotional effects that war has on these people. You often don't hear about the broken homes and forever-changed lives of these folks. This is a film that shines a light on this dark secret that doesn't get splashed on the front pages of newspapers or covered on the cable news networks.

The acting by Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron is nothing short of supurb. They are the heart and soul of this film.

The story is gripping and keeps you guessing until the end. Without giving away anything, I have to say that when you find out what actually happened, it felt a little anti-climatic at first. On the surface, it seemed a bit too simplistic and understated, but that is exactly what ends up blowing your mind once you take a moment to really digest what happened and why it happened.

There is no doubt that the final scene will be jeered by war supporters, but the anti-war crowd will likely feel a raucous applause within themselves. It's probably the single most powerful scene, but also the most divisive scene as well

I truly believe this is a love-it-or-hate-it film. Those against this war will have a hard time watching this movie objectively. Those who oppose this war are really the only folks who will be able to make a proper judgement on the quality of this film.

Me? I think "In The Valley of Elah" is a touching and powerful film that I highly recommend to those who are not war supporters.