MANILA, Philippines?Some veteran stars here are nervous about stepping out of their acting ?box,? the signature roles that first clicked with the viewing public and made them stars. Elsewhere, however, established movie luminaries aren?t as timorous about stretching their acting limits, and the results are bracingly positive and gratifying.

For example, in the forthcoming film, ?In the Valley of Elah,? Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron turn in instructively ?different? characterizations that galvanize viewers? attention, add to the two stars? acting reputation and make moviegoers? day.

Jones is known for playing cool or crusty characters in action-adventure capers. In ?Elah,? however, he plays against type by essaying the role of a father who, ticked off by official inaction, decides to act on his own to locate his missing son, a battle-scarred veteran of conflict in the Middle East.

What makes Jones? portrayal different is his focus, not on his character?s case-cracking expertise but on his personal thoughts and feelings as the parent of a missing soldier. His wife, played by Susan Sarandon, shares his fear and dread, but the film?s focus is clearly on the father?s feelings.

His fears escalate when the case takes a tragic, grisly turn. These developments would tempt many actors to unleash a storm of anguished and angry emotions. But, to his great credit, Jones avoids the tempting opportunity, and instead opts to play it low and controlled.

Difficult feat

Admiringly, however, despite this focused and disciplined approach, viewers feel the father?s pain and loss. Not many actors can pull off this difficult feat, but Jones is fully up to the challenge.

For her part, Charlize Theron?s ?degree of difficulty? in acting terms is how to deal with the ?problem? of her being too beautiful for her role as a young investigator.

Theron?s beauty could prove to be a distraction, but the actress makes sure this doesn?t happen, by toning down her character?s look and concentrating on her many personal and career conflicts.

She has a lot to work on in this regard, so her scenes bristle with intensity and conviction, affirming her reputation as an unusually compelling and insightful thespian.

Aside from the two lead characters? personal feelings, the film focuses a lot of its attention on the dehumanizing effects of war.

Thematic thrust

This thematic thrust is powerfully brought forth by the movie?s emphasis on how the war in the Middle East has transformed some soldiers into unfeeling killing machines.

They are shown sadistically torturing some wounded foes, and even laughing at the pain they have inflicted. Thus, when the case takes a grisly turn, the viewer realizes there?s a cause-and-effect scenario unfolding here.

All told, ?Elah? ends up as a powerful cinematic warning, cautioning viewers to make sure they don?t allow the violence in their lives to turn them into amoral, unfeeling victimizers.

Theron?s character arrives at such a personal epiphany at the end of the film: She learns that she had to get personally involved in the lives of the victims she encounters in the course of her work.

And, with Jones? help, she learns not to be afraid. This is one of the movie?s sub-themes, and it?s an important lesson to learn in this age of disconnectedness and lack of assertive action. Obviously, the film?s makers trust that viewers learn it, as well.