In the Valley of Elah (2007) by Paul Haggis
with Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron
Hank (Tommy Lee Jones ), old war veteran, he received a phone call from the military base where he was service of his son and learns that he disappeared a few days after returning from Iraq. Here begins the search, which will bring Hank to discover that his son has made a brutal end on American soil.
Paul Haggis, Crash test after the bad-Physical Contact, corrects the shot and manages to create a decent product, at least in appearance. The installation of the film is very classic, and here we can find is probably the biggest flaw of the film is the reason for the improvement of Haggis. It 'so obvious that we are facing one of the most overvalued in recent times, if you manage to create something here to meet the expectations had to barricade themselves behind a structure such as cured simple and devoid of ideas. The heart of the film is not in structure, but the theme, then the war, the pain of having to fight the impossible and social reintegration. Here, too, could stand the criticism ('too easy', or something like that), and are not even completely wrong. The most striking element, however, Haggis takes the position in relation to issues dealing with: at first glance may seem to be a film that pleases everyone, pros and cons (the war), for a more depth, however we realize that Haggis has a very clear idea, in practice, the film's message is that war is not wrong, indeed, may even be right, it is the war in Iraq is wrong. The major criticisms of the film are moved to this position, warmongering, but perhaps it would be fairer to criticize the excessive rhetoric with which this thesis is supported. If Haggis had dared more, in the form and content, would probably work much worse than this, that having a very solid, though obvious, and good actors (Charlize Theron in part, with dark hair is really bad) manages to achieve sufficiency.
Rating: 6
