In the Valley of Elah (2007)★ 7.3/10
- Crime
- Drama
- Mystery
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Written by: Paul Haggis, Mark Boal
A retired military investigator works with a police detective to uncover the truth behind his son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.
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Cast & crew
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Tommy Lee JonesHank Deerfield
Charlize TheronDet. Emily Sanders
Jonathan TuckerMike Deerfield
Jason PatricLt. Kirklander
Susan SarandonJoan Deerfield
James FrancoSgt. Dan Carnelli
Barry CorbinArnold Bickman
Josh BrolinChief Buchwald
Frances FisherEvie
Wes ChathamCorporal Steve Penning
Jake McLaughlinSpc. Gordon Bonner
Mehcad BrooksSpc. Ennis LongVideos
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Awards · 0 wins, 2 nominations
See all ›- NomineeAcademy Awards, USA 2008Oscar · Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
- NomineeVenice Film Festival 2007Golden Lion · Golden Lion
Reviews
V
verbwellAugust 22, 2025
verbwellAugust 22, 2025The tattered American flag drifting at the end of "In the Valley of Elah" evokes the same haunting imagery as the staged flag-raising in "Flags of Our Fathers." Both films challenge the symbolic purity of patriotism, using the flag to expose the harsh truths behind national mythmaking. It's a bitter, poignant reflection on the cost of war.
K
Kevin_SampsonAugust 21, 2025
Kevin_SampsonAugust 21, 2025"In the Valley of Elah" is a heavy, unsettling film. What begins as a murder investigation gradually reveals itself to be a searing indictment of the psychological toll of war. The idea that former comrades could turn on each other so brutally is deeply disturbing. War doesn’t just end lives—it destroys the very core of human relationships. Parents lose children, spouses lose partners, and no one is left untouched.
