A well thought out, powerful, and moving film.

Rating: 10/10 (6 April 2008)

This film I hope will sweep away the Oscars in 2009, because it was a great believable film, and it had great believable performances by Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, and Joseph Gordon Levitt. It begins with soldiers from Iraq who are coming home, But for three good friends, Brandon(Ryan Phillippe), Steve(Channing Tatum), and Tommy(Joesph Gordon Levitt) all in there own way, are emotionally destroyed from the war. Brandon discovers that he is reported to return back to Irag because of the Stop Loss policy. But Brandon refuses, cause he does not want to do anymore killing, or get anymore soldiers killed. He soon goes on the run with Steve's girlfriend Michelle(Abbie Cornish), but is this a fight Brandon can win, will he go back to Iraq, or go to jail? It was well directed by Kimberly Pierce who also directed the masterpiece Boy's Don't Cry(1999). This movie shows us a frightening reality of a never ending war, and the men and women who suffer for it. Abbie Cornish who was last seen in A Good Year(2006), and Elizabeth:The Golden Years(2007), really does well here, I hope she will have a long career ahead her. This film is a true masterpiece.