STOP-LOSS
RYAN: The new Iraq war movie “Stop-Loss” is the latest from director Kimberly Peirce who also brought us “Boys Don’t Cry.” And apparently she has a thing for guys named Brandon because that’s the name of both of these films’ lead characters.
CAROLINE: This movie reminds me that apparently we’ve learned nothing from last year’s abject failures “Rendition,” “In the Valley of Elah” and “The Kingdom.” Nobody goes to see these war movies.
RYAN: I think we’re learning more about the abject failure of the war in Iraq.
CAROLINE: “Stop-Loss” is well made but really depressing and hard to watch… not to mention gross. It can be heavy handed at times, and even though I think the film’s message is important, it’s sometimes given in a way that’s a little tedious. And it’s too long.
RYAN: Wow, that’s quite a rant. I agree that it’s too long and a little slow in parts, but I thought it was really well done and some of the shots were truly outstanding. The performances are pretty good too from Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Abbie Cornish.
CAROLINE: They’re all supposed to be from Texas and sometimes they get a little too excited about their faux Southern accents and you can’t understand a word they’re saying. It happened to Ryan, Channing and Abbie alike, in at least one scene each.
RYAN: The main thing I’m taking away from this film is that it’s really hard to watch a movie about a war that we’re currently in. We’ve seen many a film about Vietnam and World War II, but we’re so far removed from those wars that it’s a different experience.
CAROLINE: “Stop-Loss” is disturbing for sure. There are scenes in a war hospital where they must have used actual war veterans. There are guys missing multiple limbs and it’s really awful. Even though I know Kimberly Peirce is trying to make us aware of what’s going on in the war, part of me was like, “I really don’t want to see this.”
RYAN: And it’s just sad how these innocent, wide-eyed kids are signing up to go to war, doing their full tours of duty and then their country abuses its power and drags them back to war even when they’re supposed to be done.
CAROLINE: Yeah, I didn’t even know what “stop-loss” was until seeing this movie. Basically once you sign a contract, the army owns you even after you think you’re done.
RYAN: It’s so harsh.
CAROLINE: But let’s get real. This is the movie where Ryan Phillippe allegedly started boffing Abbie Cornish, resulting in his divorce from Reese Witherspoon.
RYAN: OMG I had totally forgotten that! He and Abbie have some extended road trip scenes in this movie, so you can see how it all happened. What’s your bottom line?
CAROLINE: I just don’t know if I can recommend this film knowing how disturbing it is. Also, I felt like I was watching a B-list of wannabe good actors who are decent but not fabulous.
RYAN: I thought Channing Tatum was excellent.
CAROLINE: It was nice to see him doing something other than a dance off. The movie’s just so heavy. I mean, would you really recommend this to someone?
RYAN: I’d recommend it to my dad for sure. Anyone who likes war movies will enjoy this. The first twenty minutes were outstanding.
CAROLINE: It was a great action sequence in the beginning. But then it just got so depressing. I found myself dozing.
RYAN: I’m kind of mixed on it. I just think people who love war movies will be into it, though it’s definitely hard to watch a movie about a current war.