"In the Valley of Elah" (***)

"In the Valley of Elah," Paul Haggis' second directorial effort may not be as good as 2005's surprise Best Picture winner, "Crash," but it is by no means a bad film. At its core, this is a detective story. It follows Hank Deerfield, who is investigating the disappearance of his son after he had just returned from Iraq. Along the way Hank, a former military MP, acquires the help of a female police detective to help him in his investigation. It's a tightly woven script that moves at a purposefully slow pace, which is by no means a bad thing. At first, it comes off as emotionally dry, but as the film progresses the buried, subtle emotions of the characters captures the audience's attention.

Also of note is the cinematography which adds to the "dryness" of the film. The color seems unsaturated, which adds to the tone of the film and gives the film a certain level of subtlety

The performances, for the most part, are good. Tommy Lee Jones, gives an Oscar worthy performance as the missing soldier's father. He is a character that keeps his emotions locked up inside himself, but the audience can see the pain the situation is causing him in his dark eyes. It's heartbreaking to watch this character slowly realize that his son is not exactly who he imagined he was, but no matter what his son has done, he is still his son. It is one of Tommy Lee Jones' best performances, and he may get an Oscar nomination. I'm not sure, however, if this low-key performance can hold until the end of the season. Also noteworthy is Charlize Theron as the police detective helping Hank. Charlize Theron plays a tough, stubborn character who has to endure the fact that she is a woman working in a male dominated police department. Because of this, she is determined to do whatever she can to help Hank, and not only make sure justice prevails, but prove herself to her fellow employees. Susan Sarandon also has a small role in the film as Hank's wife. She had received Oscar buzz at the beginning of the year, but I think I would keel over and die if she were nominated. She is barely in the film, and when she is on screen she gives a stale performance. Her character could have been cut out entirely from the script, making Tommy Lee Jones as a single father, which would have made his intentions even more powerful, heightening his performance.

The ending of the film is also very powerful. It serves as a distress signal to what is happening in Iraq. It is a powerful image that people should not forget.

Overall, "In the Valley of Elah" is a slow moving, sometimes powerful film that basks in its subtleties. It may have some problems, and will probably be forgotten come awards season, but it is one of the better films so far during this fall season. Check it out if you get the chance.