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| In the Valley of Elah | 
 enlarge | Actors: Josh Brolin, Barry Corbin, Wayne Duvall, Frances Fisher, Tommy Lee Jones
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $4.59
You Save: $15.39 (77%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $2.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  (94 reviews)
Sales Rank: 3065
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 121 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD117627D
UPC: 085391176275
EAN: 0085391176275
ASIN: B0011V7PSC
Release Date: February 19, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 memorable Tommy Lee Jones February 24, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
In recent years, there has been little film work by Tommy Lee Jones that has not been worthy of viewing. Nominated for an Oscar for this movie, though he probably will lose, he is well deserving.
In the wee hours of the morning, occasionally a movie will totally capture my interest and sleep becomes a secondary concern. This was such a film. Tommy Lee Jones, portraying the father of a soldier, receives a phone message from the young man's base in the Southwest advising the father of the soldier's AWOL status. The father, Hank, sure that the young man is still in Iraq, realizes something is seriously wrong and embarks upon his own investigation of his son's disappearance.
This story was based on actual events, which adds poignancy to the film. Hank, an ex-military man himself, who still lives by military code and formality, immediately drives to his son's base to find out what happened. The boy's mother, played by Susan Sarandon, is equally strong but has a limited part in the film. Hank uncovers questionable activity as soon as he arrives - things he didn't believe his son of being involved with; but suspends disbelief in the interests of arriving at the truth. He uncovers the seamier side of soldiers at play, bolstered by a camera cell phone of his son's that he surreptitiously lifts while visiting his son's Army quarters.
He enlists the assistance of Charlize Theron, in another unglamorous role for her as a homicide detective; she somewhat mirrors aspects of her "North Country" role as a strong, smart woman up against the boorish macho boys on her squad, stuck doing the pathetic oddball cases of homicide until Hank's son turns up dismembered and burned in a field near the base. Hank, who desperately needs an ally in a place where no one knows him, no one wants to help him, and where the true tale is being covered up anyway, gets through Charlise's character's wall of defense, and between them they find a world neither really wanted to discover; how war, in the present age, desensitizes, dulls the senses of right and wrong, makes monsters of people who were children only bare years before.
If Tommy Lee Jones gets the Oscar for this movie, it will be well-earned; with his dogged determination to get at the truth, he spares his character nothing, and follows every lead. He probably would have made an outstanding detective. Charlize, also, continues to prove that she is not just a pretty face, but a savvy and effective dramatic actor. This was a very good film.
The Story Stays With You February 24, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have to admit that I was completely caught off guard by the great performance of Tommy Lee Jones in this movie. Having seen him in several other things, I think he has been type cast over the years. While there are similarities in his character in this movie to others, this was a tremendous performance: he carried the film. Susan Sarandon is excellent as his wife. She shows a woman who has been silent for a very long time, but reaches a tipping point with the death of her second and only other son. Her performance is also understated. Having been raised in a military and white rural southern family, there was a familiar look to the entire film. This was a great look at some of the logistics of small town life in the USA.
With all due respect, I see that some other reviewers have somewhat missed the political point the director made. There are some politics in the film- the ending, unfortunately is probably the most ham handed of the statements. Yet, the true politics of the film are symbolic and subtle. Note the semi-muted broadcasts of John Kerry and George Bush's separate speeches from 2004 in the background of two of the scenes . In both scenes the people in the movie are going about their business without listening. What the director is saying to us is that we are disconnected from Washington and Washington is disconnected from us. Other reviewers pointed out that this is also a movie about a criminal investigation. It is, and it is well played out.
This is a generational story about how service to one's country isn't the same as it was when our soldiers came home from World War 2 and Vietnam. That's the element of the movie that had the biggest impact on me. This movie is about what has happened to us now. In the last three scenes, we see what has happened to the soldiers in this particular story, and we see that part of their psyches has changed.
This was an excellent film. My son didn't have much interest in watching it initially, but was quite literally drawn into the room as the plot unfolded. Though it wasn't pleasant, this is a rare movie that I would knew I had to have.
 Garbage February 22, 2008
11 out of 22 found this review helpful
I am active duty military so I know what I'm talking about when I say this. Not only that, but I have visited the base (Ft. Hood) that this movie takes place around several times.
This may have been intended to be an anti-war movie, but it is to me, an anti-military movie. It depicts the Army as a bunch of country bumpkin losers who all do drugs and love killing people. The fact is is that we all have random drug tests several times a year, and if we were hiding anything like a pot pipe in our barracks, it would be found by the officers who perform our room inspections every day. Drug use in the military is a terminal offense. If you are caught, you get kicked right out after one offense. Another point I would like to mention is that our rules of engagement (do not fire unless fired upon) regularly put our men and women in danger, get them injured and sometimes even killed. While casualties are inevitable, our current military does more than has probably ever been done in history to prevent them from happening.
Regarding the running over of the little girl, and the messing with dead bodies; I must sadly admit the messing with bodies does happen. It is the charge of the platoon leaders to ensure that this kind of conduct does not happen and they need to do their job as most of them do. I guarantee that no one in my chain of command will be getting away with any of this kind of conduct. Regarding the running over of the little girl, I've never heard of an order like that, BUT the unfortunate fact of modern war is that little children, old women, pregnant women WILL come out with bombs under their dresses, in their purses etc. to kill soldiers. If they are in a combat area and the girl does not move out of the way as told / warned / honked at / etc. I can see that this could become a necessity. Having one vehicle taken out by a harmless looking civilian can cause great damage to an effort to hold or take an area, not to mention the several American lives that could be lost by ignoring the possible threat. A career soldier like the main character in this movie (Tommy Lee Jones' character) would know better. Especially being a Vietnam vet as I think he was, he would know that these types of things have been minimized to a high degree compared to the Vietnam era. If he was so distressed about what happened in this war, he would have deserted during the Vietnam war.
I give this movie 2 stars because the story was somewhat engaging, and while I do find the general theme insulting, I don't think it was as bad as some of the other leftist movies out there. If you are pacifist who hates war, or someone who hates the military, this may be your movie.
Mesopotamian Elah February 22, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Highly emotionally charged, topped with excellent performances from three Academy Awards winners (Jones, Theron and Sarandon), "In the Valley of Elah" is a compelling drama about a Vietnam war veteran Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones), who finds out that his son Mike went missing shortly after returning from Iraq, in October 2004. Already having lost one son who was serving in the Army, Hank sets off to find his son.
What Hank did not expect was to find Mike's butchered and charred remains in a bare field close to a military base. Hank, knowing the tight-lipped military investigatory services, decides to ask for help from the local police department. A detective (Charlize Theron) decides to help Hank in his search for truth and Mike's killer. Through this process Hank discovers truths about his son through Mike's videos made in Iraq, truths that Hank never wanted to believe.
Fantastic performances and true to life accounts (the film is based on actual events) make "In the Valley of Elah" a great movie, one that has nothing to do with political opinions of our presence in Iraq. Just like some truths about our soldiers in Vietnam came out after the fact, some truths are starting to come out now about our soldiers in Iraq. I should know, as I have two Iraq tours behind me. This film is not against the war in Iraq - it simply portrays what our young soldiers go through in attempts to deal with horrors of war. Highly recommended.
A Terrifyingly Honest Examination of the Effects of War February 21, 2008
27 out of 38 found this review helpful
As this country continues to struggle with the tragedies inflicted upon all who are being singed and scorched by the Iraq War (and that includes every citizen of this country, whether directly or indirectly), films addressing this war are wither avoided by the theatrical audiences or cause flare reactions of judgment. Into this milieu writer (with Mark Boal) and director Paul Haggis places this painful examination of the effects and aftershocks of war in the persona of a father whose only son is reported as 'missing' after he has returned from his tour of duty in Iraq. By keeping the story focused on the effect of the devastation on one man Haggis makes his point all the more clear, and the result is one of the finest documents of the insanity of war that has been released in some years.
Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) has served in the military and encouraged both his sons to serve their country (much against the emotional reaction of his wife Joan - Susan Sarandon): his older son is killed in a helicopter crash and his younger son, recently returned from a year's duty in Iraq, is reported as missing. Hank drives to the base where his son was stationed, learns of his son's death 'by friendly fire' at home, and tries t enlist the help of the military to investigate the affair without success. He encounters a sullen police detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) who appears bruised by life in general and by her prejudiced co-workers and military men in particular. Gradually Emily sides with the grieving Hank to explore the horrid details of Hank's son's brutal murder, dismemberment and burning. Despite endless barriers of red tape and military secrecy lead by Lt. Kirklander (Jason Patric) both Emily and Hank slowly piece together the truth, using email videos Hank's son had sent him from Iraq, interviews with Hank's son's fellow soldiers, and examination of the body parts of Hank's son. Once the truth is out the effects on all concerned reveal the inevitable permanent scars of war on all concerned. Yet it is the strength of character as revealed in Hank's responses that drive home the pungent message of this difficult film.
Tommy Lee Jones gives the most subtle performance of his fine career as the grieving yet stoic Hank. Charlize Theron once again proves that she can disappear into a demanding role like few other actresses. Susan Sarandon, Jason Patric, James Franco (in a tiny but pivotal role), Josh Brolin, Frances Fisher (in a cameo that is very impressive), and all the young men who play the soldiers involved in the investigation are superb. The film pulls no punches, yet it also refrains from sensationalizing events - as though Haggis realized that the truth was viciously cruel enough without embellishment. Special mention should be paid to the fine musical score by Mark Isham, a pulsating, minimalist background that heightens the effect of the film. This may be a difficult film to watch but it is a necessary experience if we are to constantly re-evaluate our philosophy of war and intervention. Grady Harp, February 08
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