Every so often, a movie earns the title of “Film.” In the Valley of Elah is that film. Powerful and touching writing, exceptional acting, particular visuals, and marvelous direction make In the Valley of Elah a film of timeless quality.

Retired Sergeant Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) gets a phone call saying his son is absent without leave. Unable to accept that his son would abandon his duties as a soldier, he leaves his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon), and he drives to his son’s base to investigate his son’s disappearance. When he doesn’t get the response he wants from the military police, he sets off to contact the civilians. The civilians aren’t any more helpful. They tell him that he must contact the army police because they are in charge of their people, they wouldn’t investigate his disappearance. A jurisdictional nightmare, the only people who seem actively investigating the case is Hank Deerfield and Detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) follows behind in tow. The investigation is a fight with the army, a troubling examination of willful incompetence and tragic truths.

The writing in In the Valley of Elah is subtly powerful, beautiful, and demands introspection. Every aspect of this movie requires a second look or further thought. Each character and event is important to the progression and resolution of the story. Even the sheets have important symbolic meaning.

Witch Hunter #1
Writer: Vincent Verrante
Pencils: Scott
Inks and Colors: Victor Dominicis, Keith Seifert
Monarch Comics
Cover Price: $2.99; Available Now

Three hundred years ago, a young boy along with his mother are burned at the stake for practicing magic. But while his body burned, his soul was kept safe in an amulet. Now, in this modern time where magic has ceased to exist because the world has ceased to believe, this young boy is needed more than ever. His soul is released from the amulet, and his body brought back to life. Thus is born the Witch Hunter who adorns his swashbuckling garb with magical artifacts and weapons, and is cloaked in a purple robe, ready to take on evils in whatever dimension they raise their head. One of Witch Hunter’s first missions is to locate the daughter of a rich businessman. His journey takes him to a manor in a land deep underground, where monsters pay to “rent the services” of females of all shapes and races. With his trusty gun, sharp blade, and sharper wit, the Witch Hunter will have to cut through more than just a few unruly customers and staff to find the girl he has been paid to save.

The character of the Witch Hunter has existed in creator Vincent Ferrante‘s head since 1976 and first appeared in single page strips back in 1994 for the now discontinued Comic Culture magazine. The Witch Hunter finally made the full comic transition with his first issue for Monarch Comics, and is waiting in the wings to take the comic and entertainment world by storm. As the character was created at the tale end of the Silver Age of comic books, Ferrante’s writing style retains that time-period with each panel, without feeling like a forced retro throwback to a bygone era. In many ways, the Witch Hunter is a Silver Age character, and it has just taken thirty years for him to make it to the page.

Hey, I may loathe myself, but it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m Jewish. — Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Earlier this Saturday, I went to visit my grandparents up north. And then they took me somewhere, some place that I never want to go back to again. We went to my mom’s aunt’s house, where they were hosting a memorial lunch for someone who died in my mom’s family about ten months ago. The one thing that came to my mind was how Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm would fuck up something at an event just like this. So later that night, I turned on HBO and guess what my hazel eyes see on the damn TV screen? The Curb Your Enthusiasm season six premiere in friggen shining lights (at least through my eyes). Now here is what not many people know: I LIVE off of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Whenever it’s on and I’m bored, I turn it on and I sit there and laugh my tiny testes off at Larry and his damn antics. You really got to give it to the guy. Even when you are in the crappiest of moods, he gives you something to laugh at in each episode. In one way, his character is a Michael Scott (from The Office) without being in business, and in the other, he’s just Jerry Seinfeld. It’s about time we had two characters from two of the best damn sitcoms come together and form one big character. Larry David’s character is the best one that you can think of (or can’t think of). If it slipped under my radar until the day it aired again, I’m sure it could slip under yours.

PRESS RELEASE

Universal City, September 19, 2007 – The Boys are back and so are the parties, the pranks, and this time, the pledges in American Pie Presents: Beta House, coming to DVD on December 26, 2007 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Rogue Pictures. Available in an outrageously over-the-top unrated version, American Pie Presents: Beta House is filled with both the irreverent gags and heartwarming humor that have appealed to fans since their first slice of the incredibly popular comedy franchise. This time, the antics hit new highs as the boys adjust to carefree college life and a competition with a rival fraternity for social dominance that leads to unexpected and hilarious surprises. The DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP.

Focus Features just released a brand new clip from Eastern Promises, director David Cronenberg‘s crime thriller starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts.

CLIP: LEAVE ROOM NOW

QuickTime: High, Low
Windows Media: High, Low

Eastern Promises, which saw a limited release on September 14, 2007, will hits theaters everywhere on September 21, 2007.

Read our movie review here.

For five previously released clips, click here.