DVD Review: Stop-Loss

By Jeff Swindoll Jul 14, 2008, 14:02 GMT

Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum) who served with him in Iraq. Along with their other war buddies Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. ...more

An obscure clause under the enlisted soldier’s military contract allows them to be sent back into battle against their will when their contract is up.  One decorated war hero, played by Ryan Phillippe, decides to go on the run rather than go back to Iraq.

Three friends from a small Texas town have just returned from duty in Iraq.  They’re welcomed with a hero’s welcome.  Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) is the leader of the troop and is awarded for his service.  His buddy Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum) is a crack shot and the brass want him to go to sniper school, but he’s ready to return to his fiancée Michelle (Abbie Cornish). 

Their mutual pal Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the most effected by his service in Iraq as he feels responsible for the death of one of the other troops and tries to drown his sorrows in alcohol. 

King is planning on leaving the military when his contract is up and is shocked when he’s told that he’s being sent back to Iraq thanks to the Stop-Loss clause.  So instead of being forced back into duty he goes AWOL with Michelle to try and get to Washington D.C. to see the Senator that he thinks that he has a favor with.  

Stop-Loss is another in the line of films that have been made about the war in Iraq.  From their lack of catching fire at the box office, it seems that the American public didn’t want to see them.  It probably doesn’t help that they were mostly thought to be casting the military in a bad light. 

In the case of Stop-Loss, the military might deserve this casting, as I can understand the frustration of this policy.  Just when you think you’re done with your service, the military basically forces you to go back.  Not nice. 

Especially, if you’re like Brandon, you think that you’ve served your country to the best of your ability and with honor and Uncle Sam dishonorably pulls out an obscure clause and gives you no choice but to go back, either to the front or to the stockade.

However, the film that is made about this unfair policy is so disjointed and ham fisted that its point might be lost in the shuffle.  Since it’s set in Texas, everyone has cornpone country accents that feel more like parody than the real thing.  This seems to somewhat tarnish the performances. 

The show is all Phillippe’s and he does well, but that accent got in the way for me in several scenes.  It also feels somewhat disjointed as the film starts off like a Youtube video, even with an “Episode 312” title text, switches to Texas, and then has Brandon going on a road trip. 

Some of the characters feel underdeveloped.  As soon as Tommy hits the States he starts drinking and that pretty much telegraphs his story arch.  He’s also the character that gets the less screen-time as well.  I suppose that Stop-Loss has noble intentions, but they get lost along the way.  Especially since its director scored much better with Boys Don’t Cry.  

Stop-Loss is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Special features include a commentary with director Kimberly Peirce and co-writer Mark Richard.

Next is the 21-minute “Making of Stop-Loss,” the 10-minute “A Day in Boot Camp,” and 18 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary.  Finally there are previews for other Paramount films.  

Stop-Loss tries, but it gets lost along the way and feels disjointed.  With the director scoring better in her other film, you’d think she’d done better with the material.  However, that’s not the case this time ya’ll.  

Stop-Loss is now available at Amazon. It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for an August 18th release. Visit the DVD database for more information.