When decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King returns to his hometown in Texas, he is happy to finally be home for good. Along with his army brothers, King struggles to return to his life back home. Then, like a shot in the night, King is informed that he has been stop-lossed. Forced against his will, King is to report to base for another tour of duty in Iraq. Stricken with emotion and despair King is tested in the toughest of ways as he must decide what he believes in: the bond of a family, the responsibility of a friendship, the boundaries of love, the value of respect and the expectation of a country.
Combining the rigors of war, the emotions of change and the responsibility of one man, Stop-Loss scores high marks for its authenticity, its cinematography, its cast and its director, which all come together to make a war film that my generation can call its own.
What really sold this film for me was its authenticity. Never before has a film taken us inside the soul and minds of those whom have served in war and director Kimberly Peirce did that and much more. From the moment that the 'music video' appears on screen, much like the ones that are constructed while overseas, the audience is taken along for a rollercoaster ride of emotion and despair. The scenes in Iraq are real, almost too real, as we experience a deadly ambush and a return home that marks on the beginning of a man's journey through life. The experiences are raw, the emotions all too familiar as we watch on, praying for peace and a resolution from our seats in the theatre.
And with that said I have to commend director Kimberly Peirce and her abundant cast for not only creating an interesting, real film but for conveying a message as important as the war with such heart, passion and talent. With a wide array of talent and credibility, the cast of Stop-Loss couldn't have done a better job at creating such a historic film for the big screen. Ryan Phillipe brings Sgt. Brandon King to life through his stern yet loving guidance and his refusal to reenter Iraq. Though never a huge fan of the actor, his last two performances have forced me to wake up and notice the talent. Throw in a challenging performance from rising star Channing Tatum and relative nobodies Abbie Cornish and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the cast is about as good as you can get it. Even Laurie Metcalf and Timothy Olyphant grace the screen for limited minutes, proving that everyone wanted to be part of this film.
With all that said and the simple fact that the film was beautiful beyond words, I do want to harp on one minor, though important issue that I had with the film. Taking place in a small Texas town, I have to admit that the film's version of how Texans act and associate themselves was highly exaggerated from real life. Their accents and dialog were over the top and the way that they interact at parties and bars was nothing near reality, and though it is a nit-picky statement, I do have to make it known.
Regardless, Stop-Loss is by far the best film that I have seen so far this year. It is intense, disturbing and down-right real as it takes a look at the effects of war once the soldiers are back on safe soil. The turmoil and conversations that follow this film are sure to be both enlightening as they will bring about a sense of passion and a stream of emotions that no one will in the audience will be prepared for.
