Credits Director : Paul Haggis Starring : Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, James Franco Our Score :

By Clint Morris

Usually when you think of a ‘Valley’ you think of somewhere green, populated by pleasantry and with skies guarding it as light as the Caribbean sea – sorta like ‘Happy Valley’ from “Jack and the Beanstalk”.

Paul Haggis’s “Valley of Elah” definitely doesn’t fit that description. For starters, it’s far from green, it’s braver than King David in his legendary battle with Goliath (see the movie for more on that one) and furthermore, its not pleasant - not at all, this is as dark as the sky right before a thunder storm. And yet most of us would all get much more out of a trip to this town than Jack’s.

A film that won’t be screening in the White House theatrette anytime soon, the affecting drama essentially tells of the repercussions of war – and how the war overseas ain’t nearly as tough as the battleground back home. Yes, you’ve seen movies about the subject before, but not done as well as this.

A hard-nosed retired army sergeant (Tommy Lee Jones) is informed that his son, a young soldier who has just returned from duty in Iraq, has gone AWOL. Soon after arriving in the town surrounding the base, Dad is informed that a body – or the remains of one - has been found in the scrub by the side of the road. Now, with the help of a local female copper (Charlize Theron) – who is usually handed the bottom of the barrel assignments -, the distraught but tough-as-nails father searches for the truth – and those responsible for the crime – about his son.

Featuring an excellent cast, headed by the fantastic Tommy Lee Jones (what a year it’s been for Tommy! This and ‘’No Country for Old Men’’ - - ironically, Josh Brolin, who also starred in the latter, has a part in this too – albeit a very small one), Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon (as the crushed mother) and Jason Patric (as a lieutenant who “obviously doesn’t have children” ), “In The Valley of Elah” is top-of-the-range filmmaking – it is without flaw. A perfect film should have a solid story, terrific characters and a message that stays with you for days – this has all that. You’ll be compelled, you’ll be rattled, and you’ll be rewarded.

Even better than 2007s finest hour in cinema “No Country for Old Men”, Tommy Lee Jones and crew here continue to reaffirm our belief that the good story-first bells-and-whistles-second movies are still out there- you just have to search a little harder to find them. This “Valley” is well worth a stroll around.

A must-see movie.