Review of In the Valley of Elah (2007) by Allen H — 18 May 2010

Heartbreakingly real, "In The Valley Of Elah" tells the story of a veteran father looking for his AWOL son after his return from Iraq. Paul Haggis, best known for his directing in "Crash" delivers yet another emotionally charged drama, where every clue and every interview with a suspect leads the characters further and further down a rabbit hole, no closer to finding out what actually happened.

Tommy Lee Jones plays the veteran father, with his cold, stern glare, following in the footsteps of other greats who played parts like this, most notably Jack Nicholson in "The Pledge". Both bring about very stoic performances, but both command their roles and both authentically come across like the men that they play, deliberate and focused, with emotions running deep.

Charlize Theron plays the local police detective, but gets pigeonholed into the lowly female position in a department full of men who have zero respect for her, a role she often finds herself in. Despite this, she plays off Jones exceptionally and gives the film enough star power to keep it feeling fresh, instead of dated.

The conclusion of "In The Valley Of Elah" is a slow burn, nothing heightened, but wholly chilling and a true testament to the position this film takes on the war in Iraq and war in general. The result is a film that sits with you long after the credits and the imagery have faded.