Stop-Look...

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2008)

..at the fine print. If Stop-loss is actually in the contract when the soldiers enlist or sign up for their tour or however it works, which some people on this website are saying, then there is no film. Doesn't Sgt. King say "Me and the President had a contract?" Isn't the whole idea that it is unlawful for the president to yank them back?
The following review, then, is for the film in a world which Stop-loss is unlawful...
This film has two problems, but I did enjoy it. It got my heart involved, which is what a good film is suppose to do. One of the things anyway. I cared. The story made sense. I felt for those guys. The camera is too close on everyone from the very beginning, which forces the images and people down the viewer's throats instead of keeping back a bit and letting us get to know the characters before we can accept them at so close a level. This is important for a filmmaker to get, because, well, it's important. All great directors understand this. The hand-held stuff is a bit overdone, and needed to find its place.
You can't really blame the screenwriter for the ending, but let's blame them anyway. Can't blame them because it is feasible, but, isn't art suppose to seek some higher truth? Isn't that the point, after all, and not just settle for what is? After looking the Rico Rodriguez character in his eyes and shaking his hand Sgt. King still goes back to war. Hm. Feasible, but not really art. He could have made a good case for going to Canada or Mexico, and justified that. That would have been a better ending. **** the president indeed.