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In the Valley of Elah

Name: In the Valley of Elah
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 14, 2007
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Charlize Theron, Jonathan Tucker, Tommy Lee Jones

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) | Release Date: September 14, 2007 | R

Starring: Charlize Theron, Jonathan Tucker, Tommy Lee Jones

Summary: In the Valley of Elah tells the story of a war veteran, his wife and the search for their son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing, as well as the police detective who helps in the investigation. (Warner Independent Pictures)

Director: Paul Haggis

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 121 min

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Awards & Rankings

49	#49 Most Shared Movie of 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

It's the first Hollywood Iraq movie to remind me of a Vietnam film like Coming Home, and it does more than disturb. It scalds, moves, and heals. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Tommy Lee Jones is marvelous in the film. He has one scene in particular, a simple two-person encounter, that's as good as it gets in the realm of American screen acting. Read full review

David Denby

No one could mistake the movie for a documentary, but the picture has some of the rectitude of a good documentary--a tone of plainness without flatness. Read full review

David Ansen

It's the casting of Iraq vet and non-professional Jake McLaughlin as Specialist Bonner, who fought alongside Deerfield's son in Iraq, that strikes a deeper emotional chord. His scenes with Jones, fraught with a complicated mix of bitterness, concern and guilt, are the best things in the movie. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Journalists have a saying for someone who neglects or downplays the most important part of a news story: He buried the lead. That's what Paul Haggis does with "In the Valley of Elah," which submerges two important storylines beneath a pointless, unsatisfying whodunit. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Paul Haggis switches from the problem of racism to the problem of Iraq. The war is a better fit. None of the exasperating guilt on display in "Crash" has made it into In the Valley of Elah, a solidly made genre movie: the Army mystery. Read full review

Stephen Hunter

Haggis also appears to have no respect for his audience. At its crudest, the film settles for agitprop...it's no Hollywood guy's call, particularly as he's extrapolating from a single case that could have occurred anywhere, at any time. Read full review

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User Reviews

Damjk

Nov 11, 2013

This is a seriously thought provoking movie. Some people will hate it because they actually NEED to live in nationalistic illusions. But for those who have eyes willing to see, and ears willing to hear, this movie asks us to really think about war... what we do to the children (ours andThis is a seriously thought provoking movie. Some people will hate it because they actually NEED to live in nationalistic illusions. But for those who have eyes willing to see, and ears willing to hear, this movie asks us to really think about war... what we do to the children (ours and theirs), what we are complicit in, and what we normally refuse to see, despite the mounting statistics on effects on our returning soldiers. This movie was a real wake up call, with superb acting, writing and directing... it is for grown-ups, though.… Expand

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PeterK.

Mar 12, 2008

This movie deserves an 11. Most people miss the elemental power of Tommy Lee Jones's smoldering performance and the depth of dramatic irony the writing has instilled in the part of Hank Deerfield, a father unraveling the horrific and mesmerizing truths of his son's disappearance This movie deserves an 11. Most people miss the elemental power of Tommy Lee Jones's smoldering performance and the depth of dramatic irony the writing has instilled in the part of Hank Deerfield, a father unraveling the horrific and mesmerizing truths of his son's disappearance which rivals anything that Sophocles did 2,500 years ago. This film, largely ignored by all but the critics, is one of the best to come out in decades.… Expand

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xenoclast

Sep 22, 2019

A otettu darn good one. Tommy Lee Jones does a brilliant role as the very stoic dad investigating the death of his son who's recently rotated back from Iraq.

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SteveG.

Sep 23, 2007

ALL performances were excellent and held true to their characters and their director's intent. No cliches, no given overly dramatic gestures. No added violence. A bit slow at times with it's solitude and singular vision, my belief is Haggis wanted to draw you in to a world if ALL performances were excellent and held true to their characters and their director's intent. No cliches, no given overly dramatic gestures. No added violence. A bit slow at times with it's solitude and singular vision, my belief is Haggis wanted to draw you in to a world if solitude and aloneness. We are all alone with this war in IRAQ and the movie touches on the theme of losing more than just a war. It becomes a broader question. When Susan Sarandon walks away from what's left of her son the camera stays on her and Tommy Lee's walking. Her outstretched hand the entire way says more than words could EVER say. BRILLIANT MOMENT Haggis and Sarandon! The cinematography was incredible and very palpable with it's bleached tones and very simple, bright almost shimmery angles.… Expand

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Davg

Feb 14, 2014

I think that people are generally mistaken when they label a person as pro-war. War is a terrible, but sometimes necessary thing. Some people have written that this is an anti war movie, which is a very simplistic view and does not do the movie justice. This is a movie about the suddenI think that people are generally mistaken when they label a person as pro-war. War is a terrible, but sometimes necessary thing. Some people have written that this is an anti war movie, which is a very simplistic view and does not do the movie justice. This is a movie about the sudden transition from battle to being home and the consequences of that sudden transition. My father was in WW2 and saw battle. The transition time for him between battle and being home was longer due to the logistics of being home so many solders. He, and most solders in WW2, came home via ocean. I think the one month or so transition time between battle and being home helped by being a buffer time in which he could share experiences with others who had similar experiences and decompress. Was this a cure? No. Was it better? I think so. I don't think this movie questions the awful necessity for war, but it addresses our unrealistic expectations about soldiers reintegrating into a home atmosphere. As with most movies it focuses on the extreme visible edge of what can happen. While most soldiers do not display this type of behavior, the impact on their lives can be devastating for years. We all need to step back and treat our returning soldiers with respect and realize that while we will never understand their trauma, we can help them reintegrate into society with kindness and respect.… Expand

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DWilly

Oct 14, 2007

A very nice film, hurt badly by virtually all the young men playing soldiers who flatten what would have been a tough ending to pull off in any case with performances that are oddly weak, I say oddly because everyone else, including one line parts, is so damn good (Jones solid as always and A very nice film, hurt badly by virtually all the young men playing soldiers who flatten what would have been a tough ending to pull off in any case with performances that are oddly weak, I say oddly because everyone else, including one line parts, is so damn good (Jones solid as always and Charlize Theron continuously in there hitting). I think I know what Haggis wanted to say, but if you want to say it you can't do it by staying at arms length.… Expand

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DavidR.

Dec 4, 2007

I was thinking that the President of Iran was the money behind the film. The "America is the evil empire" crowd now has their own classic.

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