There’s a lot of good drama in the investigation andespecially in some of the interrogations. But what’s stayed with me from Inthe Valley of Elah are the smaller moments. Joan’s reaction when Hank tells her Mike’s dead is wrenchingand believable. (They lost theirolder son in war, too.) Emily’sinteractions with her young son, particularly toward the end when she’sanswering his questions about David and Goliath, a story Hank had told him.
But most particularly, I keep coming back to Jones’portrayal of Hank. We sensethroughout the film that there’s a particular reason he’s as focused as he ison first, finding Mike, and then finding out what really happened. When the revelation of why that iscomes, it’s like a punch in the gut, and makes sense of every word, everynuance of Jones’ portrayal.
In the Valley of Elah is based on a true story, which makes it that much more wrenching. It says alot about how war changes people, and particularly the relationships betweenpeople.
There are two featurettes; both include a fair amount ofinterview footage with the family whose son actually did die, and it’s obviousthey’re nowhere near to the point of being able to cope with their loss. How could they be given what happened?
One featurette is a fairly typical making-of, with shortinterviews with various cast and crew members. One of the interesting facets is to learn that many of theactors playing the soldiers in Mike’s platoon actually served in the war. The second featurette has additionalmaking-of aspects, but goes into more detail on some of the war footage in thefilm, which we see as video Mike shot while he was there and then postedonline.
The other special feature is an extended scene where Hankgoes in search of a girl Mike was dating before he left for Iraq. When he tracks her down, she’s in thelocal VA hospital, a double amputee. He learns from her that Mike did come to visit when he got back, and wasrude and nasty to her. It’sobvious from both Hank’s reaction and the girl’s telling of the situation thatthis isn’t the Mike either of them knew. I’m glad it wasn’t in the film,because it’s perhaps better not to know too much about Mike, but it’s awell-written scene that helps to further underscore the changes war can bring.
The sound is Dolby Surround 5.1 with English, French andSpanish options. Subtitles areavailable in those same three languages.
You’re not going to like Inthe Valley of Elah if you’re pro-war; there’s a definite point of viewhere. But unless you fall intothat category, this film is well worth your time for both the poignant storyand the outstanding acting. But Iwarn you … Tommy Lee Jones’ expression toward the end will stay with you longafter the film is over. This ispowerful work.
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