Big Screen: In the Valley of Elah

Intense and sad, and yet a very quiet movie. Things happening beneath the surface for many of these characters. A couple things about the mystery that I felt weren’t explained quite right / didn’t sit quite right. But makes its point quite well: the war isn’t just happening “over there.” The soldiers bring it home with them.

And if you were paying attention at the beginning, the message at the end is very clear: We are a country in distress. No doubt about it.

Really great performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon. And a couple of the “unknowns” playing the soldiers really did well in their parts. Very impressive filmmaking.