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Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Rob Brown

Directed By: Kimberely Pierce

Sometimes a sloppy start to a film is a good sign. It lets most of the unwanted people to get away from watching the film. This is the case with Stop-Loss it starts with soldiers returning back from the war to their town. They are a group of friends who looked out for each other in this diabolical war. Yes they go through the traumas that come with the war. But it does not hit them because they are happy to be back home. Home is a place where everything can be forgotten.

Brandon, Tommy and Steve are three friends who come back to their hometown in Texas after one of theor missions to Iraq. They begin to socialize and are really happy to be back. But Tommy played by Joseph Gordon has been totally fractured by the war. He plays someone who is totally not readable and unpredictable. His characteristic traits have really changed after the war. He looks like a walking time bomb and he plays it with a lot of good measure. But all this unsung harmony is about to change the moment Brandon gets Stop Loss. The movie sort of takes it of from here. It does try becoming a little patriotic with Brandon facing some of his friends from war. It is like a journey he takes and the consequences of this journey on his family and his close friends.

Yes things turn out to be alright in the end. But this is where the film begs to differ from most patriotic movies. There is a hidden message that is laced with the story under all the footage from the war and the choices these men take. The choice itself is one hard one. It is something he will surely regret but his country and the audience will remember. It is really heartbreaking to see your child go to war. But then when he is Stop Loss it is worse. At various instances Brandon is given a chance for a better life but will he take it or will he turn into someone who will give a fight? I really wish I could answer because that is what made the film worth a watch for me. The choice that he makes will probably shake your head with anger.
But I guess this is how life goes.

The director and the writer on their part have gone with a detailed sketch of these soldiers lives. By using handheld footage and some interviews with soldiers who have been Stop Loss in Iraq she has carved out a story with such authority and class. This has become an issue of no importance to the US government. But does this government give a damn to its people. It is really hard to say after watching this movie. I m really not sure how many people will watch this movie for what it has to say or just look away after watching it like some drama. But whatever the case this film is out there on DVD for all you Americans as a reminder a good one at that.

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