After returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, Mike Deerfield (Jonathan Tucker) has gone missing. Receiving this news, Mike's father Hank (Tommy Lee Jones), a Vietnam vet and former Military career officer, sets out to track down his son, while reporting back home to his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon). Upon the discovery of his son's grisly fate, Hank questions further, with the eventual cooperation of detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron).
Written and directed by Paul Haggis ("Crash"), "In the Valley of Elah" was inspired by the murder of Richard Davis at the hands of his fellow soldiers. His father Lanny, a retired Army staff sergeant, went on to investigate his son's suspicious death and called attention to the potential results of witnessing war atrocities.
The film's title references the location of the biblical defeat of Goliath by David, and the reference is echoed in Hank's steadfast persistence despite civilian limitations and Military politics. While Emily challenges authority in her workplace and at the army base against Lt. Kirklander (Jason Patric), Hank is also exposed to glimpses of his son's Iraq experiences via cell phone video clips, retrieved by a friendly techie (Rick Gonzalez).
Despite its quiet progression, the film feels like a cinematic equivalent of a page-turner. While "Crash" had its merits, it relied too much on force-feeding examples of our prejudices and personal issues. "In the Valley of Elah" is heavy-handed in a few ways (the number of uses of the name 'David' grows cheesy), but it succeeds on a much deeper level than "Crash."
Tommy Lee Jones is at his most impressive and powerful here. His layered performance reveals a broken heart, both from the loss of a child and from newfound disillusionment with a revered organization. As he tries to get close with the other men in Mike's unit, Jones' subtle expressions share memories of camaraderie and honor, but devastated by a growing disgust. Charlize Theron continues her strong career with another believable performance. Susan Sarandon gives a moving portrayal, but in a wisely time-limited role, as the father's journey becomes the transitional core.
With cinematography by Roger Deakins, the look of the film is attractive in its simplicity, capturing the stillness of small town Americana and haunting night shots. Haggis made an unpredictable, effective choice to not show a flashback of the crime, instead opting for a flashback that demonstrates a decision that encourages ethical decline. Hearing confessions void of the gravity of one's actions proves far more eerie, as we listen to how men lost themselves so quietly, and how they later erupted so forcefully.
Four of my family members were in the United States Military; three of them fought in a war. "In the Valley of Elah" is sure to be controversial, and I imagine that there will be Military veterans or supporters who will view the film as offensive considering their efforts. Obviously there is a criticism of the war, but disrespecting soldiers is not part of the film's intention, nor does it suggest that every soldier has post-traumatic stress disorder or reveled in torturing the enemy. However, attempting to truly care about someone or something includes asking questions and allowing realizations, both pleasant and unfortunate.
After viewing the film, in regards to the final image Lanny Davis remarked, "I've been thinking about flying my own flag upside down. This isn't my America, the one I stood up for." Viewers may or may not share that sentiment, but "In the Valley of Elah" is a thought-provoking portrait of tragedy for all.
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