Movie Review: Stop-Loss

Last week, the death toll in Iraq hit 4,000 and the nation marked the fifth year of the war.  The release of the MTV Film "Stop-Loss," in theaters today, arrives with perfect timing.  Sure, some people will not agree with the politics of the movie.  Yes, there are already those who claim the stop-loss policy is misrepresented, but the film is still powerful, impactful and keeps the dialogue about the war in Iraq alive -- a topic that is no longer hot in the media with imaginary gunfire in Bosnia and supposed "anti-white" black preachers in Chicago. 

The stop-loss policy is "the retention of soldiers in the service beyond their expected term.  Using a loophole in soldiers' military contracts to prohibit servicemen and women from retiring once their required term of service is complete".  According to the film, being stop-lossed has sent at least 81,000 soldiers back to Iraq. 
 
"Stop-Loss" is directed by Kimberley Pierce, her first film since 1999's Oscar winning "Boys Don't Cry."  Pierce proves again she knows how to grab an audience with raw emotion, graphic imagery and a clear vision.  Regardless of the film's politics, the movie still manages to tell a good story about the tragic side effects of war from the physically injured to the mentally scarred.
 
Pierce humanizes the soldiers, who are often times minimized to numbers.  Pierce said in a recent interview, "I want you to emotionally connect with [the characters]. I don't have the agenda of exposing stop-loss; I have the agenda of moving you."  The viewer will surely be moved, knowing there are so many American men and women who are in Iraq as you watch.  Moreover, Kimberley Pierce should be praised for effectively mixing politics with humanity.   
 
Ryan Phillippe ("Cruel Intentions," "Crash") stars as Sgt. Brandon King, one of the many soldiers who comes home from Iraq and is honored as a war hero.  With no warning and little explanation, Sgt. King is ordered by his government to return back to Iraq and simply told he has been "stop-lossed."  When he challenges the stop-loss policy, he is asked, "Are you gay?"  This is one of the few ways someone would not be "stop-lossed" or even allowed to serve their country.   
 
Sgt. King aggressively refuses to return to a war zone, abandoning his faith in the President and goes on the run.  His fellow soldiers are also battling their own demons, trying to fight off the residuals of war, which seem insurmountable. 
 
Ryan Phillippe and unknowns like Channing Tatum ("Step Up", "Coach Carter") and Rob Brown ("Take the Lead", "Coach Carter") deliver stellar performances as hometown Texas boys.  The strong acting from Phillippe and the supporting cast, pull right at the heartstrings: children killed, mothers mourning and soldiers scarred for life. 
 
While a good film, "Stop-Loss" is left with a major flaw, which is a disappointing ending.  After all of the rebellion from the main character the film neatly ties itself up with a bow, leaving the audience wanting more and wondering if there will be an alternative ending on the DVD. 
 
Overall, "Stop-Loss" is a good film and there are endless redemptive qualities that make up for the mawkish ending. 

Grade: B
 
"Stop-Loss" is in theaters today. 

Clay Cane is a New York-based journalist, AOL Black Voices contributor and creator of http://www.claycane.net.