Review: The Valley of Elah (Grade: B+)

Many people have put their own spin on the films of Paul Haggis. They say he's a "manipulative filmmaker" and that his "messages" are thinly veiled stereotypes. But I disagree. I like Paul Haggis films, no wait, I really like his films.

More often than not Paul Haggis films try to say something. He doesn't try to make films that appeal to teenage boys with something blowing up every 10 seconds and he doesn't try to cater to the so-called trends of the days, but rather he makes films about open-mindedness and about people struggling with their beliefs.

"In the Valley of Elah" is Haggis's latest film that see the main character strongly believe in something at the beginning and by the end their entire world is turned upside down. The title of the film is taken from the biblical story of David and Goliath and refers to the location where the great battle took place. It's fitting to say that Tommy Lee Jones is David and is fighting against the Goliath that is the U.S Military. Before I go on, many people have also said that they refuse to watch this film, dismissing it as Anti-American propaganda and that it bashes the troops and so on, ad nauseam. But truth is this film is about war and it's effects on the human psyche, the fact that it's about the Iraq war is almost secondary. It can easily be replaced with Vietnam or Word War II.

Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield a retired Army intelligence officer whose soldier son has seemingly gone AWOL after returning from his tour of duty in Iraq. Hank doesn't believe it so he decides to investigate for himself. Shortly after he arrives at the base it's discovered his son's been murdered. After the military and local police prove to be incompetent Hank tries to uncover the truth himself. Jones is great in this role and seemingly we've seen him play this character before but Jones shines as a man on a mission and will not let anything get in his way. He teams up with an unlikely ally in the form of local cop Charlize Theron, who again proves that she can act. I was seriously having my doubts about her acting abilities after her last few films, let me tell you. But I digress. I thought that Jones would blow her off the screen but she not only holds her own in their many scenes together, she actually outshines him a few times. Susan Sarandon who plays Jones suffering wife makes great use of her limited screen time and turns in a very moving performance of a mother who lost both her sons to the military. Frances Fisher also pops up (and out) as a topless waitress who gives Hank a clue about his son (yes, you heard that right), brave move on her part that's for sure.

The story itself is full of Haggis subtext and nothing is at seems as Hank slowly finds out the truth about what really happened to his son. By the end you can see the truth in his face and let me just say that the truth is extremely ugly. Coldly shot against the sterile backdrop of military bases and their surrounding small towns, this film reminds us that even our long held and sometimes fanatical beliefs can not only be wrong but they can evolve.

In the end Paul Haggis has written and directed another gripping tale of everyday people facing horrific circumstances. Is it manipulative? Yes it is. But isn't that the job of every filmmaker? Yes, it is. Should you see this film and judge it for yourself? Yes, you definitely should.

Musings Grade: B+

-- Janaki Cedanna