Hopperesque

Hopperesque

Friday, 6 January 2012

In the Valley of Elah


I hadn't expected this 2007 military themed film to be probably one of my favourite modern Noirs of recent years when i watched it last year but the bleak storyline and powerful lead roles set out as almost a traditional detective tale give it an understated power.





           Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Thereon give it a strangely haunted feel and
Paul Haggis has been noted by many as a director to look out for.

2 comments:

  1. This is an interesting issue you're raising, because I don't think this is really noir. Not that subject isn't (it totally is) but by the structure, which is articulated around the father's perception.

    What happens to the son is completely noir, but it's so diffused that the son's fate is more instrumental to the father's story, which is the real focus of the story.

    But I could be wrong. Like I said, this movie is sitting on the edge of any definition.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I see what you mean Ben but i had looked at it in a far more basic way.Dark and stylish portrayal of a story with trust and betrayal as a main theme.

    ReplyDelete