Friday, December 26, 2008

In the Valley of Elah

Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron

A retired Army sergeant investigates the death of his son after the letter returns from Iraq. The theme here is dealing with the wreckage produced by American militarism.

Set up as a policier/thriller, it easily held me. TLJ underplayed his role which seems to be the current fashion for male actors of a certain age, but which worked well here.

Ms Theron made the film work. Her quietly determined character easily carried the story along. She was harassed, thwarted from all directions but simply ignored obstacles and kept moving forward.

The resolution strained credibility-a bit too pat-real life seldom comes together quite so neatly. But overall, this was in the plus column.

6

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