Question for those who have seen "In the Valley of Elah". (MAJOR SPOILER WITHIN)

[Pale Blue Dot]

Great movie. As much as I enjoyed Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood, I think Tommy Lee Jones may have deserved the Oscar more.

My question regards the package Mike sent to himself that contained the American flag and the photo addressed to his dad. Do you think that this meant that Mike knew or assumed he was going to die?

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. One kick for the evening people. nt

[TZ]

2. I saw the movie

and as for the package he sent himself---Yeah, I think he felt he was gonna die.
Great movie though. Tommy Lee Jones was outstanding in it.

BTW..How's that bracket working out for you so far?:P

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. I haven't even looked at the bracket.

I took a chance on my alma mater, and that didn't pan out. :cry:

[Inchworm]

3. I think not

I figured it was the flag from his vehicle or something representing "this is when I turned.. remember me with this picture and not how/what I have become."

:shrug:

[TZ]

4. I dunno

He was obviously suffering from PTSD and I think he was unconciously suicidal. I think maybe on the surface he sent it that way, but I also think that he sent it because whether he took his own life or not, he probably felt his life was over. But thats just my impression.
Great movie though

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. That's an interesting idea.

Thanks!

[TomBall Democrat]

5. I thnk it was a cry for help

Remember the phone call home - you've got to get me out of here, Dad?

SOS - we're in deep shit here, Dad.

Help me.

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. Do you know or remember if the flag was folded properly in the envelope?

I'm not a miltary man, so I'm not sure.

On edit: That's a great idea, but it doesn't totally answer the question of why Mike would send it addressed to himself.

[TomBall Democrat]

9. didn't catch that it was addressed to himself

I thought it was addressed to his dad.

missed that...


intriguing question

can't imagine the impact of being there. what it might do.

I had a great friend who died last year. Did 2 tours in Viet Nam.
Told me he stayed high on anything he could get - just to survive mentally.

What he described to me seemed sorta like -
I have to stop being me - go somewhere else mentally -

just to get outta here alive.

maybe the son in the film was sending a piece of himself home for safekeeping