Stop-Loss

--R-- This movie has come and left many theaters already, and to be honest that is a shame.

Stop-Loss is a movie about an obscure contractual clause in the armed forces paperwork. Apparently in a time of war, the military can decide to re-deploy men or women after they are supposed to be getting out of the military. This of course comes as a shock to Staff Sgt. King (Ryan Phillipe) as he arrives home expecting to be relieved of his command. While there are a couple sub-plots running throughout, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the bulk of the movie is about King and his decision to AWOL from duty and seek help in legally breaking his military contract.

What was so fascinating about the film was the subject matter, something I had never heard of before and how writer/director Kimberly Price decided to intertwine current scenes with hand-held recordings of King's unit in Iraq. It was fascinating to see the camaraderie and dynamic of the unit in Iraq compared to how they reacted and interacted to being State side.

Price made a thought provoking, visually masterful...predictable film. Without going so far as to give the ending away, I will state that it is not a surprise and to be honest a bit of a let down after the political and personal struggle Staff Sgt. King goes through.

Overall, the film was above average and worthy of receiving far more attention than it got. The acting was superb (save for pretty boy Channing Tatum), the directing was good and the story intriguing. Definitely a worthy rental if you missed it in the theaters.

cah