Stop-Loss

Boys Don't Cry director Kimberly Peirce, apparently oblivious to the fact that audiences have shown almost zero interest in fictional anti-Iraq War agitprop, does her best here to personalize an issue that should have equal resonance for both protestors and supporters of the war. Ryan Phillippe stars as Brandon King, a straight-arrow Texas soldier who serves gallantly in Iraq and returns home to a hero's welcome, barely readjusting to life stateside before learning that he's being redeployed to Iraq. King, who feels betrayed by the Army, impetuously goes AWOL, heading to Washington in the naïve hope that his senator will find a way to overrule the president's stop-loss order. Unfortunately, Peirce tries to score some cheap ideological points by making King's onscreen comrades—played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum—into jingoistic thugs and troublemakers whose personality problems are exacerbated by something resembling post-traumatic stress disorder. And, ultimately, the film sacrifices moral clarity for a muddled denouement that doesn't provide a satisfying answer to the questions that it raises. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Kimberly Peirce and co-writer Mark Richard, a 21-minute “making-of” featurette, 11 deleted scenes with optional commentary (19 min.), “A Day in Boot Camp” featurette (10 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (E. Hulse)