War Hits Home in 'Valley of Elah'

'In the Valley of Elah' is wrenching, timely
by Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

Absorbing, sobering, timely and eloquent, it may disturb some viewers with its strong anti-war message. But Paul Haggis' sharply written script and compelling direction will not disappoint.

The film is an exploration of the searing effect of the Iraq war on soldiers and their families. At its heart is a multidimensional portrait of a patriotic American family whose worldview is shaken to the core. It is also an eye-opening look at the experiences of American soldiers sent to Iraq, as well as their treatment and adjustment upon returning to their native soil.

There is a whodunit aspect to the story that doesn't work quite as well as the overarching tale. But Tommy Lee Jones' transcendent portrayal of a career military man searching for his soldier son overpowers whatever minimal flaws the film may have…

Jones gives the best performance of his career. His every gesture and inflection is filled with nuance. He doesn't say all that much, but the expressions that play upon his craggy face, the take-no-prisoners look in his eyes, and even his posture and repetitive motions speak volumes. It would be a travesty if he were not among the best-actor nominees at Oscar time. 

Susan Sarandon, as Jones' wife, is also excellent. Though she's in only a few scenes, she captures the complexity of a character who is knowing, devoted, quietly enraged and hollowed out by grief.

Charlize Theron, as a principled police officer who forms a tenuous bond with Jones, is superbly subtle.

Elah focuses on the disappearance of a soldier just home from Iraq and the military's lax investigation into his whereabouts. As we watch Jones' disillusionment with an institution he ardently supported, we feel his pain. And we are shattered along with him as we absorb his horror at the transformation of honorable young men into numbed and tortured souls.

This is undeniably a haunting movie. But don't let that scare you off. The ending, and all that leads up to it, will leave viewers devastated but deeply moved.

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