The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
Features  |  Reviews
FIND MOVIES
Find a Movie
Movie List
Loading ...
or
Find Theaters and Movie Times
or
Search Movies

Stop-loss

Predictable, pointless, and sad
By PETER KEOUGH  |  March 25, 2008
2.0 2.0 Stars
STOP-LOSSinside
Stop-loss

It took a war to bring Kimberly Peirce back to the screen after her impressive 1999 debut, Boys Don’t Cry. But like everything associated with the Iraq debacle, her new film is a disappointment. The title refers to the military’s Catch-22 bending of the rules by which troops who have served out their assigned time in Iraq return home only to learn they’re being sent back. That’s what happens to Texas hero Sergeant Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe), who’s fresh from a Baghdad ambush (the most cinematically successful part of the film) in which he lost men and accidentally killed civilians. Back home, after fumbling through a speech to the clueless civilians welcoming him, he tries to restore his civilian life while keeping his knuckleheaded buddies from going off the deep end. This part combines The Deer Hunter with The Dukes of Hazzard. Later, when he gets his marching papers, Stop-Loss serves as a what-not-to-do guide for those in that situation. Predictable, pointless, and sad. 112 minutes | Kendall Square
Related: Spring brakes, Primary concerns, Fractured fairy tales, More more >
  Topics: Reviews , Kimberly Peirce, Ryan Phillippe
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments

ARTICLES BY PETER KEOUGH
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   REVIEW: UP IN THE AIR  |  December 02, 2009
    No director pulls off the bait-and-switch as craftily as Jason Reitman. He gets you thinking that you're watching a hip, caustic comedy subverting the status quo, but by the end, he's vindicated all the platitudes he seemed to scorn.
  •   REVIEW: Z (1969)  |  December 01, 2009
    John F. Kennedy wasn't the only political leader murdered in 1963. On May 22 of that year, Gregoris Lambrakis, a left-leaning, pacifist member of the Greek parliament and an aspiring presidential candidate seeking to replace the reigning right-wing government, was assaulted after a peace rally in Thessaloniki. He died five days later.
  •   REVIEW: JULIA  |  December 04, 2009
    When the once-æthereal muse of the late Derek Jarman wiped sweat from her armpits in Michael Clayton , a new persona was born.
  •   REVIEW: THE STRIP  |  December 02, 2009
    In lieu of Steve Carell’s hopelessly inept and earnest manager, we have his creepier duplicate, Glenn. Instead of the boorish brown-noser played by Rainn Wilson, there’s the more obnoxious Rick.
  •   REVIEW: BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS  |  November 24, 2009
    Nicolas Cage is at his best in Bad Lieutenant

 See all articles by: PETER KEOUGH

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group