In the Valley of Elah

In the Valley of Elah
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Paul Haggis
Screenplay by	Paul Haggis
Story by	Mark Boal Paul Haggis
Produced by	Patrick Wachsberger Steven Samuels Darlene Caamaño Loquet Paul Haggis Laurence Becsey
Starring	Tommy Lee Jones Charlize Theron Frances Fisher Susan Sarandon
Cinematography	Roger Deakins
Edited by	Jo Francis
Music by	Mark Isham
Production companies	NALA Films Samuels Media Blackfriars Bridge
Distributed by	Warner Independent Pictures(United States) Summit Entertainment(International)
Release date	September 14, 2007(2007-09-14)(United States)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$23 million
Box office	$29.5 million

In the Valley of Elahis a 2007 Americancrime dramafilm written and directed byPaul Haggis.The film starsTommy Lee Jones,Charlize Theron,andSusan Sarandon.Its title refers to theBiblical valleywhere the battle betweenDavidandGoliathtook place.

The film is based on actual events, although the characters' names and locations have been changed. The screenplay was inspired byjournalistMark Boal's "Death and Dishonor", an article about the murder case published inPlayboymagazine in 2004.

It portrays a military father's search for his son and, after his body is found, subsequent hunt for his son's killers. The film explores themes including theIraq War,abuse of prisoners, andpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

Plot

On November 1, 2004, Hank Deerfield – a gravel trucker and retiredmilitary policesergeant living inMonroe, Tennesseewith his wife Joan – is notified that his son Mike, asoldierrecently returned fromIraq,has gone missing. Hank drives to Mike’s base inNew Mexicoto look for him; leaving home, he helps a school custodian raise the American flag correctly. At Fort Rudd, Hank meets his son’s squad, and secretly takes Mike’s cell phone from his belongings. Watching videos recovered from the phone, he attempts to report Mike’s disappearance to police detective Emily Sanders, after she finished talking to a woman whose dog has been murdered, regrettably unable to help out, and reaches out to a friend formerly atArmy CID,without success.

Mike’s burned and dismembered body is discovered. Fort Rudd claims jurisdiction, believing that apipefound under Mike’s mattress and the recent arrest of other soldiers for smugglingheroinindicate his murder was drug-related. Hank persuades Sanders to show him the crime scene, and realizes that a green car spotted at the scene was actually blue. Belittled by her male colleagues, Sanders convinces the local sheriff to pursue the investigation, and Mike’s squadmate SPC Gordon Bonner reaches out to Hank.

After viewing her son’s remains, Joan returns home and receives a package Mike mailed to himself, which Hank urges her not to open. Mike’s credit card history leads Sanders and Hank to a restaurant, where Hank deduces Mike ate with at least two other people shortly before his death. Sanders is given sworn statements from Mike’s squad by Army investigators, preventing her from interviewing them herself. She invites Hank over for dinner, and he tells her young son the story of the BiblicalDavid’s battle withGoliathin theValley of Elah.

Eve, a topless bartender Hank previously questioned, recognizes Mike’s squadmate CPL Steve Penning from a photograph, leading Hank to learn that Mike and Penning were kicked out of a strip club the night Mike was killed. Sanders interviews Penning, Bonner, and SPC Ennis Long, who admit to lying in their statements: after Mike got the four of them kicked out of the club, he and Bonner fought in the parking lot; Mike then paid for their food at the restaurant, and they visited a prostitute before leaving Mike, who was looking to buy drugs. Hank refuses to believe Mike’s fellow soldiers could be involved in his death.

Hank and the police determine that another member of Mike’s squad, PVT Robert Ortiz, isAWOL,with a history of drug smuggling and a blue car. Following the police as they raid Ortiz’s address, Hank subdues the fleeing Ortiz and beats him until detectives intervene. Ortiz is arrested, but Bonner is found hanged with Mike’s grandfather’s watch in his pocket. Sanders concludes that Bonner, who also owned a blue car, killed Mike. She learns that Angie, a soldier’s wife who came to her for help, has been murdered by her husband.

Hank has his son’s remains sent home, and Penning helps jump-start his truck, reminiscing about Mike. Sanders matches Penning's handwriting to the signature on Mike’s last credit card statement, and realizes Penning, Bonner, and Long killed Mike, then used his credit card at the restaurant. Penning has already come forward and received a plea deal, but at Sanders’ insistence, she and Hank hear his confession in person: he admits to stabbing Mike after a seemingly insignificant quarrel. Hank asks him about a video of Mike torturing a captive insurgent, and theemotionally distantPenning explains, “We all do stupid things”. He also states that anyone could have died in that quarrel or a similar one, and that Mike "was the smart one [and that] he could see", thereby implying Mike may have brought the aggression upon himself out of nihilistic despondency and the realization of the group's inability to readjust to civilian life.

Collecting Mike’s belongings, Hank apologizes to Ortiz, who has beenhonorably discharged.Haunted by his last conversation with his son, after Mike drove over an Iraqi child playing in the road, Hank thanks Sanders and returns home. He finds Joan opened Mike’s package, which contains a picture of his squad and afolded flag.Returning to the local school’s flagpole, Hank flies his son’s flagupside down.

Cast

• Tommy Lee Jonesas Hank Deerfield
• Charlize Theronas Detective Emily Sanders
• Susan Sarandonas Joan Deerfield
• Jonathan Tuckeras Mike "Doc" Deerfield
• James Francoas Sergeant First Class Dan Carnelli
• Josh Brolinas Chief Simon Buchwald
• Frances Fisheras Eve
• Wayne Duvallas Detective Nugent
• Jason Patricas First Lieutenant Kirklander
• Victor Wolf as Private Robert Ortiz
• Brent Briscoeas Detective Hodge
• Greg Seranoas Detective Manny Nuñez
• Barry Corbinas Arnold Bickman
• Brent Sextonas Lieutenant Burke
• Zoe Kazanas Angie
• Wes Chathamas Corporal Steve Penning
• Glenn Tarantoas Detective Wayne
• Jake McLaughlinas Specialist Gordon Bonner
• Sean Huzeas Captain Jim Osher
• Mehcad Brooksas Specialist Ennis Long
• Rick Gonzalezas Phone Technician
• Kathy Lamkinas Chicken Shack Manager
• Jo Harvey Allenas Jo Anne
• Mike Hatfield as Jo Anne's Husband
• Arlin Alcala as the neighbor

Production

Factual basis

Although the film story is fictional, with the names and locations changed, it is based on the facts of the murder case ofRichard T. Davisof Baker Company,1-15 IN.Davis was anIraq Warveteran who was murdered soon after his return home in 2003. Richard Davis's father, Lanny Davis, was a former military police officer. He mounted his own investigation into the crime, as did the character played by Jones in the film. Davis commented, "It's a strong movie and a good movie. And it's going to make a lot of people think."

In 2004, freelance journalistMark Boalwrote an article about Richard Davis's murder, entitled "Death and Dishonor," published inPlayboy.This inspired Haggis, who adapted the account for his screenplay.

Davis's story was told in a 2006 episode, "Duty, Death and Dishonor," of theCBS Newsprogram48 Hours Mystery.

A non-fiction book about the murder case, by author Cilla McCain, titledMurder in Baker Company: How Four American Soldiers Killed One Of Their Ownwas published in 2009 by Chicago Review Press.

Screenplay and casting

Haggis initially approachedClint Eastwoodto play the part of Hank Deerfield, which Haggis had written for him. Eastwood declined the opportunity because he was involved with other projects.

Release

The film premiered September 1, 2007, at theVenice Film Festivaland was later shown at theToronto International Film Festival.It opened in a somewhatlimited releasein theUnited Stateson September 14, 2007, eventually grossing $6.7 million domestically, making it abox office disappointment.The film opened in theUnited Kingdomon January 25, 2008.

Critical reception

As of March 20, 2022,review aggregatorRotten Tomatoesreports a 74% approval rating based on 164 reviews, with anaverage scoreof 7.00/10. The site's consensus reads: "Though some of Paul Haggis's themes are heavy-handed,In the Valley of Elahis otherwise an engrossing murder mystery and antiwar statement, featuring a mesmerizing performance from Tommy Lee Jones ".OnMetacritic,the film has an average score of 65 out of 100, based on 37 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Timemagazine'sRichard Corlissnamed the film one of the Top 10 Movies of 2007, ranking it at #8. In his review, Corliss praised the film as an improvement on Paul Haggis's Oscar-winningCrash,calling it "strong in the sleuthing, sobering in its political conclusions." Corliss singled out Tommy Lee Jones's performance, saying his "drained humanity anchors this excellent drama."TimecriticRichard Schickelalso ranked the film #8 on his own Top 10 list, saying that the film "is a spare, taciturn, devastating account of what happens to the souls of soldiers forced to fight wars for which not even phony or temporary justifications are offered them."

The film was criticized by some as having a heavy-handed approach.Stephen HunterofThe Washington Postwrote, "Haggis also appears to have no respect for his audience. At its crudest, the film settles foragitprop."Kenneth Turanof theLos Angeles Timessaid that "the characters in this sombre film have the glum look of individuals delivering a Very Important Message to the world. And though this film in fact does have something crucial to convey, this is not the way to go about it."Conversely,Stephanie ZacharekofSalonwas critical of the film for not going far enough, saying that it "chickens out."

Awards and nominations

Haggis won an award given by theSIGNISat the 2007Venice Film Festival,where the film was in contention for theGolden Lion.Tommy Lee Jones was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Actor.The film also made theNational Board of Review's list ofTop Ten Independent Filmsof the year.

External links

• In the Valley of ElahatIMDb
• In the Valley of ElahatAllMovie
• In the Valley of ElahatBox Office Mojo
• In the Valley of ElahatRotten Tomatoes
• In the Valley of ElahatMetacritic