NOW ON DVD

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
Rated R

Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, James Franco

Brian’s Rating       

Careful, Hollywood. Your politics are showing.

As the movie machine continues to crank out films dealing with the war in the Middle East, the viewpoint of the people behind the camera is taking a front-line position, and that may not sit well with all audiences. With In the Valley of Elah, now on DVD, the filmmakers clearly want to show us the effect of the war on the American GI.

But this tale of a missing soldier takes us to a very dark place and suggests that the combat experience can turn America’s youth into a very unsavory lot. Think what you will about the film’s message, but an Oscar-nominated performance by Tommy Lee Jones as the soldier’s distraught father should not be missed, and Oscar winner Charlize Theron delivers the goods as well.

In the Valley of Elah comes fully equipped with a touching story, incredible acting, and a transparent agenda.