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Poster for In the Valley of Elah

In the Valley of Elah

Sometimes finding the truth is easier than facing it.

2007 · 2h 4m · R Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Directed by Paul Haggis

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Overview

A career officer and his wife work with a police detective to uncover the truth behind their son's disappearance following his return from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
74%
Tomatometer
Fresh

This is Jones' show and he makes you feel a father's fear and loss in ways that are subtly heartbreaking, never melodramatic.

Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Rotten

The movie isn't nearly as obvious or redundant as writer-director Paul Haggis's previous film, the Oscar-winning Crash, but it still feels like the work of someone trying too hard to enlighten you.

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
Rotten

The failure to avoid pat answers and cheap grandstanding dogs Haggis here as surely as it did in the overrated Crash, and robs In the Valley of Elah of much of its power.

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Fresh

In the Valley of Elah is another in a long line of great Tommy Lee Jones performances.

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Rotten

[Haggis'] self-serious tone becomes wearisome, and he fails to explore how the military failed its men while clumsily laying a guilt trip at its feet.

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

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