Description
This past weekend, we saw the first truly great movie to come out thus far on the terrible subject of the unfolding American disgrace in Iraq. "In the Valley of Elah" is that movie, and we strongly recommend it to all, not just for its entertainment value, which is significant, but more for its importance in displaying for all to see the horror of this ill conceived adventure in its most human terms.
The story involves Hank Deerfield, brilliantly played by Tommie Lee Jones, a retired military police investigator, whose son, Mike, has been deployed with his Army unit in Iraq. Deerfield receivesmore… the call at his Tennessee home that his son has gone AWOL from his Army barracks. Deerfield replies that this can't be so: his son is in Iraq. No, the caller informs him. The unit has returned, and Mike is gone from the base. He'd better get back "pronto".
Deerfield tries to raise his son on the cell phone, to no avail. He senses something wrong, and sets off to the Army base to discover what it is. On the way, a significant, though symbolic scene takes place. Deerfield observes a flag flying in front of a school. But the flag is flying upside down, a sign of distress. Deerfield investigates, only to find that the immigrant janitor was unaware of this important aspect of flag etiquette.
Arriving at the base, Deerfield finds his son is still missing. Army CID is no help. And neither are the civilian authorities. And then the mutilated corpse of his son shows up near the base. It appears that Army CID wants to suppress the case. Deerfield turns to the civilian authorities. But the authority in this small town is rather suspect, represented by Charlize Theron in a wonderfully understated role as the civilian detective.
Deerfield and the female investigator form an unlikely duo and finally solve the gruesome crime. But that is only half the story. What they discover is the depravity that the young soldiers have come to through their involvement in this brutal, absurd conflict.
A terribly important, and possibly overlooked, scene occurs at the home of the female investigator. Deerfield tucks in her young son and, eschewing "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", tells the lad the story of David in the Valley of Elah. David, the little shepherd boy is the only one of the Israelites who can overcome his fear of the monstrous giant, Goliath. He chooses to fight both his fear and the giant. And he wins, against all odds and logic. This is the essential message of this very important film. Goliath represents the power of the modern state, what Hobbes styled as Leviathon. David represents all of us who, rather than cower in fear of this monstrosity, have the courage to take it on.
Some have styled the ending of this movie as "over the top". I strongly disagree with this assessment. In my view, the ending is perfectly understated, and extremely powerful. This country is, indeed, now in distress. And those who truly care need to act and act now. False "conservatives", like the mendacious Michael Medved hate this movie. This is so because it well illustrates the total bankruptcy of their insane policies. It is a great and terribly important movie. See it. Pick up five small, smooth stones. And have no fear!
| Tommy Lee Jones |
| Charlize Theron |
| Jason Patric |
| Susan Sarandon |
| James Franco |
Info:
- Category:
- Movies > Films
- Case Type:
- DVD
- Release Type:
- Retail
- Language:
- English
- Region:
- R1
- Format:
- Widescreen
- Comments:
- 1 read add
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Cover Info:
- Title:
- In the Valley of Elah (2007) WS R1 Retail DVD
- Part:
- Front
- Dimensions:
- 3238 x 2169 px
- Size:
- 3,579 KB
- Downloads:
- 271 (0 today)
- Uploaded:
- 10/07/08 by Sarge!
- Quality Rating:
-
- Currently 2/5 Stars.
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