war be hell but perhaps it be the postwar that be most telling . at least that be the thesis of paul haggis late film and in the valley of elah and a story of a father quest for his son that reveal some bitter truth about war . not an easy film to swallow upfront and it be certainly one of the best film of the year . a grizzled and former military policeman and hank deerfield ( tommy lee jones ) and be notify that his son and mike and be awol after return from the fighting in iraq . what begin a a methodical search for his son whereabouts becomes more tragic and clash with local police and military brass . where be his son and and what do his soldier buddy know about one fateful night near their base . and what if anything do happen to him in iraq . these question be answer in small piece and with alarming implication . hank skill at police work help convince local detective emily sander ( charlize theron ) to take charge of the case despite the doubt of her own colleague and the military and lead by investigator lt. kirklander ( jason patric ) . mike pda have garble video that begin to paint a disturbing picture of the war front . hank search take an emotional toll on himself and his wife ( susan sarandon ) . he and emily form an uneasy alliance and and and amid theory and suspect and what emerge be an ominous portrait of war veteran on the homefront . ultimately hank come face to face with a disarm truth about his son fate and the possible involvement of his military brother . the story be base on actual event in 2001 in tennessee and and it title reference the mythic tale of david and goliath set at a time when the rule of engagement be different than the present . it sparse and simplistic structure of a mystery pepper with flashback video and imagery may seem on surface like an independent film and but it message and execution be on a grander scale and not merely with dialogue . with effective visuals and much be convey by silence and expression and or simple body language . a with other haggis film and thing that seem ordinary and insignificant at the beginning have implication later on . though not a overtly obvious with connect a myriad of dot a in his oscar winner crash and the thread be all there to gradually weave together . it be refresh that the jurisdictional conflict between local police and the military do not take a stereotypic turn of heavy hand conspiracy and cover up even though the military investigator be not cast in the best light . it share a similar feel with the recent courage under fire where the truth be unearth in small bit until a big picture emerge . a couple of minor plot point go nowhere such a hank meet an old comrade who may have connection with military intelligence . a grandiose and flamboyant a be his oscar win turn in the fugitive and tommy lee jones act here be equally underplayed while he be magnificent . through the pain and guilt that creep over his lined feature and you also feel his suffering and his loss and and understand his bitterness . his hank be a proud man and a patriot and who want the truth . the truth ultimately change him forever . equally up to the challenge be theron and in a strong performance and whose detective be a single mother who must battle her own squad and superior while try to solve a mystery . even sarandon brief moment be affect a the long distance wife . the rest of the cast be very good while they become real people . this be not simply the readjustment to the homefront do magnificently in the best year of our life or the heavy use of dramatic love triangle to condemn the vietnam war in coming home . rather and it take the concept of a give war and allow it to become the ultimate villain in an increasingly sordid mystery . it end call to mind the deer hunter but with a more pessimistic bent . it most certainly vilify the effect of war on it men . it be significant that a passing quote and we all do stupid thing and say something about not just the horror of warfare and but what such conflict do to it soldier and and how they become soulless monster capable of the most brutal of crime . this be a brave and imperfect film that set a somber tone and never let up . the final image be a statement that make this perhaps the subtle of antiwar film ever . oscar nomination can start here with picture and direction and screenplay and and the duo of jones and theron . while not everyone will be willing to let the story unfold with it nuanced direction and understated acting and those who be patient will find a move tale of innocence lose and corrupt .