The War

Long before he scaled the craggy peaks of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, Elijah Wood stole this movie from his more experienced co-star, Kevin Costner. Costner plays Stephen, a poverty-stricken Vietnam vet in 1971 trying to come to terms with his experiences. His son Stu (Wood), meanwhile, has problems of his own – the impressive treehouse he and his sister have just built in the woods is under attack from mean and smelly local bullies.
While this does use the kids’ conflict as a metaphor for grown-up wars and bashes the viewer over the head with the ‘why can’t we all get along’ sentiment, there is a lovely movie beneath the preaching that is well worth seeking out. Costner gives one of his most subtle performances as the veteran suffering post-traumatic stress, but the movie belongs to the children – Wood, Lexi Randall (as his sister), and LaToya Chisholm and Charlette Julius as her friends. Even when odd plot twists come around – such as a scary bit at a water tower –they handle them with as much skill and warmth as actors twice their age.