In The Valley of Elah Review

Paul Haggis, writer and director of the controversial and thought provoking hit film "Crash" and writer of "Million Dollar Baby" doesn't disappoint with this equally hard-hitting story. Inspired by an article about a missing solider in Iraq, "In The Valley of Elah" follows the journey of Vietnam veteran and ex-military police officer, Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) as he searches for the truth about his missing son. Hank's last contact with Mike (Jonathan Tucker) was a desperate phone call from Iraq begging his father to get him out and get him home. Hank visits Mike's army base and from all accounts is told that Mike was a model soldier and no one can explain his disappearance. Hank looks through his son's possessions and manages to sneak away with Mike's mobile phone. The phone provides a clue to Mike's activities in Iraq, with the help of a phone hacker, Hank uncovers video footage of his son torturing captives and gets a sense of how far removed from reality things were getting for him in his life as a soldier.

When a body is found near the base and identified to be Mike, Hank launches an unstoppable campaign for answers. He enlists the help of police officer Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) and urges his wife Jean (Susan Sarandon) to stay at home, grieving alone while he pressures Emily and the army to find the truth behind who killed his son.

This film boldly presents a darker side of the American forces along with the mental and emotional trauma of war. "In The Valley of Elah" does not spoon feed with comforting one-dimensional portrayals of right and wrong. Instead it challenges you to accept that grey areas exist in morality and heroism. Writer/director Paul Haggis has devoted his career to provoking debate and this latest effort is a timely debate indeed.