Stop-Loss

A few months ago I reviewed a documentary titled “The Ground Truth: When the Killing Ends.” I gave it a pretty poor review because, while its central theme—the combat training given soldiers and the ensuing consequences when they try to reintegrate into civilian life — was fascinating, relevant, and disturbing, it strayed into arm-waving and politics, pulling a quick bait-and-switch I didn’t appreciate. “Stop-Loss,” handles the same thematic material, but, as often happens, is able to tell the truth more clearly, compellingly and simply through fiction. It makes its point and avoids all the arm waving.

Ryan Phillipe turns in the performance of his (relatively short) career here as a serviceman returning home at the end of his tour. Phillipe’s acting choices (Crash, Flags of Our Fathers, Breach) have shown a burning desire to cast off the pretty-boy image of his early days, but up til now he’s always looked more beautiful than smart, and often a little out of his depth. No longer. Here he takes command, bringing great intensity and depth to the role. He plays Brandon, a Texas boy and good soldier; a little too good apparently, because on the day he is supposed to be released, the Army decided they can’t part with him and exercise the “Stop-Loss” part of his contract. Which means he’s going back to Iraq for another tour. (Stop-Loss is a real life Army policy; voted into law by Bill Clinton and used extensively under Donald Rumsfeld, Wikipedia defines it as “the involuntary extension of a a service member’s active duty service under the enlistment contract in order to retain them beyond their initial end of term of service (ETS) date.” Bummer.) But Brandon (Phillipe) takes exception to the Stop-Loss policy; he feels he’s done his duty to his country, served his time in hell, and there’s no way he’s going back. Instead he goes on AWOL, first headed to see a Senator in D.C. who promised him help in time of trouble, then to New York to buy a fake passport and sneak into Canada.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWd0BfibzeE[/youtube]

The movie really ought to become a road trip flick here, as Brandon makes stops to see the family of a fallen soldier and one in the hospital. But instead it finds its secondary characters more interesting; relative newcomer Channing Tatum is impressive as Shriver, who has always played tight end to Brandon’s quarterback, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (trying to escape his own sitcom ghosts) is Tommy, who throws one too many beer bottles at a window and ends up with a bad conduct discharge. As these guys and their demons are way more interesting than anything Brandon finds on the road, it’s wise that writer/director Kimberly Pierce has an eye out for them, and ultimately, even Brandon must return to Texas because of them.

“Stop-Loss” is a moving, potent reflection on the psyches of our soldiers, and it manages to be so without commenting (directly) on the politics surrounding the Iraq War. Whether or not you think it’s a just and/or necessary war, the fact remains that it’s taking a heavy toll on our young men. This is a fact worth observing, reflecting upon, and perhaps taking action upon. I’m thankful for a movie that moves me to pray for our soldiers, not just that they would win their battles and avoid physical damage, but that they would be able to heal from the emotional, spiritual, and mental damage they must endure just from being in a war.

“Stop-Loss” reminded me of another movies about soldiers coming back from Iraq, one I didn’t review – “In the Valley of Elah.” That movie, basically a procedural that hinges on a rather jarring and possibly disputable premise, makes more sense after watching this one. In a way, “Stop-Loss” puts “Elah” in context; they’d made an interesting double feature, though by the end you might be reduced to a quivering puddle of guilt and goo.

Recommended

• if you’re a father or brother of a serviceman. These are issues you need to be thinking about.
• If you’re tired of overly political, arm waving films about the war.
• If you’ve been there, and you’re not going back, and life over here is harder than you thought.

Not Recommended

• if you’re a mother or wife of a serviceman. I think this might put you over the edge.
• If you think “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” is just a bleeding heart liberal excuse for a lot of whining and crying.
• If you’re just looking for something fun, entertaining, light and enjoyable. Look not here, sir.

“Stop-Loss” releases today on DVD.