In the Valley of Elah (2007)

It is always the little things that make us doubt how well we know someone who has been a part of our lives. We get confused when they react differently than we expect. We get concerned when they say something not in keeping with their character. Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) has many of these moments when he meets and talks to the people with whom his now murdered son Mike (Jonathan Tucker) has served in Iraq. It’s as if he doesn’t know this man who is his beloved son who gets wrecked on booze and drugs, pokes a prisoner’s open wound for fun, laughing at an amputee’s limb loss, tossing change at a stripper.

Director:  Paul Haggis Writer:  Paul Haggis; Mark Boal Cast:
Tommy Lee Jones -  Hank Deerfield Charlize Theron -  Det. Emily Sanders Jason Patric -  Lt. Kirklander Susan Sarandon -  Joan Deerfield James Franco -  Sgt. Dan Carnelli Barry Corbin -  Arnold Bickman Josh Brolin -  Chief Buchwald Frances Fisher -  Evie		Wes Chatham -  Corporal Steve Penning Jake McLaughlin -  Spc. Gordon Bonner Mehcad Brooks -  Spc. Ennis Long Jonathan Tucker -  Mike Deerfield Wayne Duvall -  Detective Nugent Victor Wolf -  Private Robert Ortiez Brent Briscoe -  Detective Hodge Greg Serano -  Detective Manny Nunez