In the Valley of Elah

I am surprised that this movie isn't getting talked about more. I knew very little about it going in and don't even think I had seen one television spot. Writer/Director Paul Haggis has made a better film than the Oscar winning Crash (his last effort). This film sums up perfectly a certain feeling about war without being too heavy handed. It isn't just talking about this war, but all wars in general. While it provides certain answers to questions, it leaves other open. These characters are just as confused as we are about how certain situations arise.

Tommy Lee Jones is the master of minimalist acting. Every word seems carefully chosen and he can do more with his eyes than most actors could do with a five minute monologue. In this film it isn't so much what he does say as when he says it. He carries this part police procedural, part post-war drama on his shoulders, he is in almost every scene and even though the subject matter is dour we light up every time we see him.

Not that Jones is the only actor that delivers great performances. Charlize Theron and Susan Surandon are both first-rate in their respective roles. It was nice to see Theron's character not be a cliche. She never develops a romantic interest like so many other movies would have given her. She is just trying to raise her son and go about her job, which honestly she isn't even that great at, she is just determined. James Franco, Josh Brolin, and Jason Patric also all do good work in their small roles.

This film has a certain pace that once you become accustomed to it will almost put you in a trance. Not that it is slow but it takes it's time to tell the story. It doesn't feel like all these loose ends are tied up in a matter of hours, we see the days pass and the fatigue it adds to these characters.