Stop-Loss

An abolutely great movie with great performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum and especially by Ryan Phillippe.

It shows what the war can do to these young soldiers fighting the war in Iraq - while they are there and after they come back - .... HOME ... A normal life ? What do you think ? No, not so.

Just watch the movie - it is worth it !!!

Great movie...Really makes you aware of what could happen to soldiers who risk their lives for our freedom.

At first I was not interested in this movie -- I don't care for war movies and I had a tough time getting past the first 1/2 hour. However, at my family's urging I did see the whole movie and realized it was one of the best movies I have ever seen. My cringing at the initial violence turned out to be the point of the movie. The performers were absolutely excellent and the thoughts and issues raised in this movie will stay with me forever. This movie is a must -see for everyone!

For all its strong sentiment favoring our troops in Iraq, `Stop-Loss' is primarily a protest movie. Much like `In the Valley of Elah,' before it, the film grapples with post traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD). The soldiers are honored as heroes, and rightly so, but the main thrust of the movie is challenging President Bush's order to extend service during their tour in Iraq. Perhaps practical, the ramifications of extending their tour of duty are given a dramatic treatment in the film.

At first we get some intense battle scenes as enemy figures creep up on our soldiers and torpedo bomb their tank in an urban alley way. Intense but in control, SSgt. Brandon Leonard King (Ryan Phillipe) leads his beleaguered troop skillfully through the chaos. During the ensuing battle, Rico Rodriguez (Victor Rasuk) is seriously injured after "one of Hodgi's new bombs" explodes a nearby car.

Bringing it all back home to Brazos, TX, Brandon and his friends, Tommy Burgess (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and Sgt. Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum) get a proper welcome. A cheering crowd gives them hearty hurrahs until Sgt. King obliges their request to make a speech. His somber reminder of Rico's sacrifice silences them as they're reminded of the sobering risk they took for the love of their country.

Soon we see the fallout in their lives. Heavy drinking, fights, and flashbacks all come back to haunt all three of them with an emphasis that's different for each. Steve doesn't remember beating his girlfriend, Michelle, or digging a fox hole after drinking too much. Tommy is almost surely an alcoholic who gets an ultimatum from the brass. However, it's Sgt. King's memories we see the most as battle scenes come to haunt him from the past.

As Brandon gets ready to check in one last time, Lt. Col. "Boot" Miller (Timothy Olyphant) informs him that his tour of duty has been extended. Traditionally gung ho, Brandon loses his temper and disobeys orders. About to be sent to "the cooler," he breaks through two guards, steals a jeep, and escapes the military compound. From there he goes AWOL as does the movie to a certain extent.

Unlike 'In the Valley of Elah,' 'Stop Loss' is not based on a journalistic account. Instead it's a drama highlighting a military policy. The acting, tension, and story aren't as compelling as 'Elah,' even though there are fine performances all around. After a few too many brawls, the merits of `Elah' come flooding back to memory. Ryan Phillipe, who has a mixed reputation as an actor, has been on a roll since his truly good performance in 'Breach'. His acting range here can only bolster his career. Traditionally one of the best young actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's troubled Tommy is believable throughout, and Channing Tatum is nearly as genuine as the tough, but tense Shriver.

More gripping than `Rendition' (except in the torture scenes), 'Stop-Loss' is just as provocative in its approach. Obviously meant to get us thinking about the unnerving prospect of extended service, the movie tries to achieve a balance. Whether we believe the war was ill-conceived from the beginning; the surge was necessary and effective; or any combination of the two and their opposites, the movie at least holds two truths most will agree with: 1.) Our soldiers make great sacrifices for our country. 2.) They have an enormous burden that comes with extended service. Either way this is mainly a solid drama that at least gets us thinking about what it really means to be a soldier in one of those rare times when young men haven't been drafted in the first place.

A J.P.'s Pick 3*'s=Good

Hollywood has been having a hard time capturing the American post-9/11 experience, some films like "Lions For Lambs" are muddled political commentaries. Documentaries have done much better capturing the Iraq experience, especially "Operation Homecoming" and "Taxi To The Dark Side." Kimberly Peirce's "Stop-Loss" is one of the best dramatic efforts about Iraq yet produced, it has a lighter heart than the dark "In The Valley Of Elah" and makes a better effort at trying to understand the situation of soldiers returning from the front. It captures one particular phenomenon, I doubt Peirce meant this as a commentary on all Iraq war veterans in general, and no film could possibly capture the entire scope of the wartime experience in just an hour and forty-five minutes.

"Stop-Loss" follows a group of small-town Texan soldiers returning from Iraq after brutal urban combat experiences. The film wonderfully captures the atmosphere and people of rural Texas with settings that feel completely authentic. The soldiers themselves are well-written, the screenply by Mark Richard and Kimberly Peirce create a gang of friends we grow to care about. They don't feel like cardboard recycles of previous films but like real young men experiencing traumatic events. Ryan Phillippe is especially convincing in his performance and loses himself in tone, accent and attitude. He's a long way from the kid we first met in films like "Cruel Intentions" and "54."

Peirce manages to create a film that mixes powerful drama with political commentary and visceral action. The scenes in Iraq are sharp and well-done, never evoking the morbid adrenaline of "Rambo," instead she captures the confusion and raw reality of combat. Some will cringe or complain over the sight of Iraqi civilians being killed, but such is the reality of what is happening, those who disagree are welcome to put the film aside. The political angle of the film is well-handled, it is obvious this is an anti-war movie, but it also doesn't feel like a sermon. Peirce lets the characters, events and situations express the politics, it isn't like "Lions For Lambs," which was literally just a discussion put on film. Here a character chooses to run, and the story follows his journey with intensity and emotion. Through simple, realistic moments of doubt, compassion and unity, Peirce expresses ideas about how our soldiers are being treated by the system, and without raising banners makes important questions about the nature of the war itself. This isn't a Michael Moore film, but it is an intelligent film that forces the audience to consider ideas and opinions as they are entertained by the main character's intense, uncertain quest.

There is some controversy generated over the film's main focus, the issue of "stop-losses" in the military where soldiers are forced to recycle service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Does it happen? According to official records it does. Does it happen exactly as in the movie? Maybe not, but keep in mind that films are forced to condense information for the sake of time and drama. Those who have questions should simply look-up any news or scholarship on the subject. Others are also angry at the depictions of soldiers coming back scarred from war, with serious emotional problems. Again, Peirce is not saying this is the ENTIRE experience for soldiers, her film is focusing on this particular, well-documented side of what soldiers returning from Iraq are going through.

"Stop-Loss" is a moving, heartfelt picture, and yet the controversy expressed by some reviews should be expected. This is one of those special films that has important things to say in the age of commercialism, where issues like war and violence are reduced to cartoon junk food like "Transformers" or "Rambo." This is a film about people who have experienced a war and must deal with the aftermath. It is in the same league as previous statements in previous times like "Johnny Got His Gun" or "Born On The Fourth Of July." It does not dishonor the troops, on the contrary, it is speaking for those who's conscience is making them think. A previous reviewer mentions that we have a volunteer army, this is true, and because our men in uniform have chosen to defend our country they deserve better than being sent to fight a war without reason, for imperialism and oil. These are conclusions I drew, you may draw different ones.