Stop-Loss
Review
by Clint Morris
Interview: Director -
Kimberly Pierce
Some
films make you laugh. Some films make you cry. Some films make you
cower under your seat.
Stop-Loss'
will make you mad – fists-clenched fuming!
If you’re not envisioning a certain President’s head-on-a-stick by the
end of the film, you’re somehow related to his tribe
As if guided by Oliver Stone, Kimberly Peirce has used the cinematic
medium as a chance to rip into both George W. Bush and his
incomprehensible War.
The film fixes on those young soldiers that, upon serving their country
in Iraq for some time, are forced back into enemy territory for another
service of duty. Most, as you can understand, aren't doing a jig about
returning to the battle fields – and some even flee the country so they
don’t have to.
Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a
distinguished return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of
duty. But the homecoming rapidly turns unpleasant, as each of the
soldiers struggles to mix back into society.
Tommy (Joseph Gordon Levitt) can't lay off the booze, while Steve
(Channing Tatum) roughs up his fiancée. Brandon is eager to put the war
behind him, but that dream quickly fizzles when he learns that he has
been "stop-lossed," or ordered back for another, involuntary, tour of
duty.
With the aid of Steve’s fiancée (Aussie gal, Abbie Cornish), Brandon
leaves town – determined to either talk a senator into freeing him of
his commitment to the war, or if that doesn’t work, leaving the country
altogether.
Yes, I suppose you can say these men knew what they were getting into
when they signed up to be a soldier. But did they really? And do they
know who their enemy actually is this time?
Whatever the case its law that if they’ve been asked to serve again in
the same War, they must. What Peirce’s film does is show us why a lot
of these guys don’t want to go back – and it isn’t just because of the
physical wounds they’ve already picked up, but the emotional scarring
that their first term has left them.
Its gut-wrenching stuff to hear some of these boys, as good as just off
the bus from their first call of duty, required back at work. Having to
say goodbye to their loved ones, home, and, predominantly, serene
tranquilly – it isn’t an easy thing to watch, let alone live through (I
imagine).
Peirce’s film doesn’t exactly examine both sides of the coin – she’s
pretty much anti-Government - but then, what does it matter? She has a
very valid point to make. This is what’s happening (In some respects,
it’s like living through Vietnam again with young men drafted into a
war that they didn’t want to fight), and if you’ve got a heart, you can
understand the sadness of all this – these guys have been through hell,
the last thing they wanted was to return. The filmmaker lays it out
thick. And it gets through. It’s a very effective message.
Accompanying Peice’s slick direction and Chris Menges’ lavish
cinematography are some bravura performances by some of today’s best
young actors. Ryan Phillippe (Crash),
in the main role, is an absolute knockout. You’ll root for him every
step of the way.
As Michelle, Abbie Cornish (Candy)
is equally stupendous – and what’s amazing is how authentic her Texan
accent is; not bad for a little Aussie girl! In addition, Channing
Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ciaran Hinds provide solid support.
It’s a well-cast film to say the least.
It does have you picking a side, but makes some valid points leading up
to it.
Stop
Loss is one of the best films you’re likely to see this
year – and one of the most important films you’re ever likely to see.
4 out
of 5
Stop-Loss
Australian release: 7th August,
2008
Cast:
Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Official
Website: Stop-Loss
Director: Kimberly Peirce
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