Stop-Loss (2008)

A veteran soldier returns from his completed tour of duty in Iraq, only to find his life turned upside down when he is arbitrarily ordered to return to field duty by the Army.

Director:

Kimberly Peirce (as Katherine Peirce)

Writers:

Mark Richard, Kimberly Peirce (as Katherine Peirce)

Stars:

Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Phillippe	...	Brandon King
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Tommy Burgess
Rob Brown	...	Isaac 'Eyeball' Butler
Channing Tatum	...	Steve Shriver
Victor Rasuk	...	Rico Rodriguez
Quay Terry	...	Al 'Preacher' Colson
Matthew Scott Wilcox	...	Harvey
Connett Brewer	...	Curtis (as Connett M. Brewer)
Timothy Olyphant	...	Lt. Col. Boot Miller
Josef Sommer	...	Senator Orton Worrell
Linda Emond	...	Ida King
Ciarán Hinds	...	Roy King
Mamie Gummer	...	Jeanie
Abbie Cornish	...	Michelle
Alex Frost	...	Shorty

Storyline

Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon's will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | friendship | honor | texas | iraq war | 

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Taglines:

The bravest place to stand is by each other's side.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic violence and pervasive language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Kimberly Peirce Project

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,555,117 (USA) (28 March 2008)

Gross:

$10,911,750 (USA) (13 June 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kathryn Tait, who played one of the Biker Chicks, almost wasn't going to be a biker chick. When Bam Rubenstein showed up, Kathryn and Bam talked for a while and decided that Kathryn would ride on Bam's motorcycle. Because of that both Bam and Kathryn were shot mounting, riding, dismounting, entering a bar and playing pool.

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Goofs

When King is talking with the other soldier on the run in the motel, his mouth does not move for one sentence even though we hear his line.

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Quotes

[from trailer]
Passport Issuer: Here's your new ID. If you go, you're gone for good.

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Connections

Referenced in An American Carol (2008)

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Soundtracks

America the Beautiful
Traditional

User Reviews

Stops short of being great; but still worth seeing

'Stop-Loss' deals with the problems soldiers have in getting out of the army; both through the technical procedure of "Stop-Loss", whereby a solider is sent back for a second consecutive tour of duty, but also through the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life after time on the front line. Many dramas set after the Vietnam war explored the idea that the sense of a victory well won (absent then, as now) might be critical to enabling a soldier to make the transition from combat animal back to member of civic society. The film is well made, powerfully acted, and doesn't pretend that it's characters are angels (although it justly acknowledges their bravery). But it doesn't really go very far beyond its premise, and the ending is given a slightly more upbeat (but inconclusive) spin than could have been applied. The final credits remind us of the startling high number of American troops to have fought in Afghanistan or Iraq in the 21st century; wars that are fought (for good or bad) while the rest of us get on with our lives in an altogether easier place.