Paul Haggis' latest directorial effort (his first since the Oscar winning Crash) is already being dismissed by many conservatives as nothing more than a trashy piece of anti-war claptrap. Personally, I found In the Valley of Elah to be a quietly haunting portrait of the war in Iraq told from an interesting perspective. In this effective character study Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield, an ex-Army man who hopes to find his son after the military solider goes missing shortly after returning from a tour in the Middle East. When Jones seeks help from the military police, he finds them surprisingly evasive. Desperate to locate his son, he then seeks the aid of the local police department, but they prove to be even more unaccommodating than the military police. Eventually his son is found, but unfortunately, tragedy strikes in a way Deerfield isn't quite prepared for. On it's surface, Haggis' film plays a bit like Aaron Sorkin's entertaining A Few Good Men, only in a more restrained manner. Whereas Sorkin's tale is an all out crowd pleaser, Haggis' picture takes the low key route. Jones turns in one of the best performances of his career. His Hank Deerfield is a multi faceted character with a world of deep rooted issues. The pain and frustration that dwell within this emotionally distraught individual, comes through loud and clear. With his weathered appearance, and sad eyes, Jones has fashioned one of the most compelling characters of the year. Charlize Theron also turns in an outstanding performance as a single mom/police officer who develops a rather complex bond with a determined Deerfield. Paul Haggis does have an agenda here, but then so do a lot of film makers. Whether you agree or disagree with his politics, there's no denying that Haggis has fashioned a film of great depth and character. In the Valley of Elah makes bold observations about the effects the war in the Middle East has wrought on many American soldiers. In this regard, this movie reminded me a bit of the intriguing documentary Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. As Deerfield gets ever so closer to the truth, he realizes it may be something he doesn't want to hear. In the Valley of Elah does falter a bit in it's final, grandstanding moment (a little more subtlety would have been nice) but overall, it's an exceptional film brimming with realistic dialogue and remarkable performances.