In the Valley of Elah (R)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing In the Valley of Elah
. This movie follows Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) as he struggles to find out what happened to his son when he came back from Iraq.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: Very good movie. I was especially impressed with Tommy Lee Jones.
How about you?
Scott: I liked the movie. I thought Jones did an incredible job.
It was amazing to watch him on screen. He conveyed emotions without talking, with his facial expressions, or how he carried himself onscreen.
Mike: He created a very rounded out character that had a very precise way that he lived his life.
This movie has a great mystery story to it that keeps you engaged until the end.
Scott: You start out with Deerfield finding out his son has gone AWOL, but soon you find out he was murdered. For a long time, really until the end, you really aren't sure what was going on.
Mike: Its definitely one of those puzzle piece movies. You learn things little by little, until at the end, you finally know the whole story.
Scott: You are right, but unlike most of those movies, the pacing was good.
Mike: I almost said that by the end it all makes sense, but that’s not true. You know everything that happened, but like in real life, everything can't be wrapped up with a little bow.
Scott: I thought the movies ending was satisfying
Mike: It’s a good ending, but I don't think I would call it satisfying. Put it this way, it’s not what I expected.
Scott: Charlize Theron is Police Detective Emily Sanders, who is recruited by Deerfield to help him figure out what happened to his son. Once again, we get a strong performance from Theron. I just wish she could act AND look good at the same time.
Mike: I am always impressed with Charlize. Like Johnny Depp, she goes out of her way to toss out her "beautiful people" image to play a part.
Another small but meaningful performance comes from Susan Sarandon as Deerfield's wife Joan. She doesn't have much screen time, but what she has sticks with you.
Scott: Sarandon had just the right amount of time for me. She played the part of the quiet, sheltered, wife well.
Mike: She really shows the grief of a mother having to deal with the loss of her son.
Scott: A large part of the movie focused on the military, mostly due to his son being in the Army at the time he went missing. Jason Patric is Lt. Kirklander, the military officer assigned to the case. Kirklander’s role in this seemed to be to block any actual work to determine the killer. He played the role well.
Mike: One thing that surprised me is how many name actors appear in small roles here.
Scott: Bit roles for some of them.
Mike: In addition to Sarandon we see James Franco, Barry Corbin, Josh Brolin, and Frances Fisher in almost throwaway roles. All do a nice job though.
Scott: The movie was a quiet one. Mostly we would only hear music during some revelations.
Mike: Yes, the score is very understated.
Scott: The score, the set, the dialog; it all was understated as if to bring attention to the lack of attention to the forces in Iraq. You notice more by their absence, then if they were there.
Mike: This movie has some very interesting things to say about the reality and consequences of the war in Iraq.
I wonder how many people will realize the significance of the Valley of Elah, before they see the film.
Scott: I didn't know it, but my more religious relatives picked up on it right away.
One thing I liked about this movie was that even though it had a similar premise to A Few Good Men, it definitely was not that movie. There was no courtroom drama here. It was all about the father and his missing son.
Mike: This is a detective story, much like Zodiac, which was one of my favorite films this year.
Scott: Much more emotional involvement with the characters though. I still see the connection you are making, however loosely.
Mike: Looks like Paul Haggis may have a movie career building here. Haggis wrote and directed this film and it is a worthy follow up to his Oscar winning movie Crash. I think this is only his second movie as a director, but he has had a hand in writing some of the better movies of the last couple years: Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of our Fathers, Casino Royale, and Million Dollar Baby to name a few.
Scott: With the exception of some TV shows, he has done well lately. And he did really well with this movie.
Mike: I will keep an eye out for his next projects, including the next Bond movie.
Scott: What do you rate this Mike?
Mike: This is a definite 4 overall and 4 for mystery/drama. I have already been recommending this to people.
And you?
Scott: I liked the movie; I give it a 3.5 overall and a 4 for mystery/drama.
