Muhammad Idrees Ahmad

Several documentaries have come out since the illegal invasion of Iraq which at most times have chronicled the unfolding tragedy far more ably than the mainstream media. It was Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9-11 that put the war on the agenda in a big way (though there were several notable independent releases). As for Hollywood, until recently, references to the war have remained mostly oblique or symbolic (as for instance in the case of The Assassination of Richard Nixon). This may not surprise those who would recall that in the case of Vietnam it was well after the war had ended that Hollywood first attempted a critical portrayal. Perhaps it is a testament to the rise of the independent film maker that some in Hollywood feel confident enough to tackle the issue of the war even when most of US population would rather they weren’t reminded of it. In this respect, while Robert Redford’s well intentioned Lions for Lambs suffered from its attempt to balance criticism of the cynical politics of the ‘war on terror’ with support for ‘our boys’, Paul Haggis’s In the Valley of Elah is a real triumph. The film may be stating the obvious, but the dark build up to the denouement leaves one constantly on the edge. It is an intelligent and nuanced take on the Iraq war and the culture that sustains such horror. The subtlety of the film’s narrative is c…(read more)ontrasted by the powerful symbolism of the last scene. First rate performance from Tommy Lee Jones, and kudos to Paul Haggis for an intelligent and courageous statement. Even Charlize Theron — who often gets cast merely as a splendid invitation to make babies — gets a decent role, which she performs admirably. I couldn’t recommend this highly enough.