Stop-Loss, a harrowing, emotional indictment of a war that has divided this country like no conflict since Vietnam, delves into what happens when the country doesn't do as well by its soldiers as they do by it.
Comment
03/28/08
Stop-Loss (2008)
64
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:89
Rotten:49
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Stop-Loss is sincere and complex, and features strong performances, even if it tries to cover too much ground.
Australian Theatrical Release:
Aug 7, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $10,796,776
Synopsis: Director Kimberly Peirce (BOYS DON'T CRY) tackles another controversial topic with STOP-LOSS, the story of a U.S. soldier forced back into battle. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) has just returned to... [More]
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Reviews for Stop-Loss
81 - 100 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Just like real life but not a damn thing like G.I. Joe.
03/28/08
Stop-Loss should have been a thought-provoking drama; instead, the crucial subject of PTSD is lost amidst melodrama and mediocrity.
03/28/08
...more of an artillery based Abercrombie and Fitch road trip than a concise character study.
03/28/08
An incredibly frustrating drama that starts off promisingly, featuring a talented ensemble, but devolves into too much repetitive rhetoric and a predictable non-conclusion.
03/28/08
Peirce is thisclose from a really powerful movie but there's too many missteps to recommend it despite some quality acting.
03/28/08
Well-meaning attempt to call attention to the wildly unfair practice of sending troops back to war after their tour of duty is over is told with broad, obvious brushstrokes. Still, it's good that it was told at all.
03/28/08
In Rico especially, and in Brandon's confrontations with his own delusions, the movie focuses on the unhealthy rituals of manhood and male community encouraged by the military
03/28/08
If Gordon-Levitt (who's delivered stellar performances in Mysterious Skin and The Lookout) had been moved up from his supporting role to the lead, the film would improve considerably.
03/28/08
Rather than dwell with a bunch of debating politicians, Peirce explores the serious psychological issues that many soldiers have upon return from any war.
03/28/08
[I]t's pro-the-troops -- as if anyone could honestly be against the health and well-being of our troops -- but anti-the-bullsh*t that they're being put through...
03/28/08
Told entirely from the point of view of the servicemen, it avoids the pitfalls that less-subtle, sloganeering Iraq war movies like "Lions for Lambs" fell into last year.
03/28/08
The film teeters on the balance until arriving at its genuinely moving and depressingly honest final act.
03/27/08
If the details of the story are a tad melodramatic, the overall circumstances are all too painfully real.
03/27/08
"Stop-Loss" isn't so much a bad film as it is an annoyingly uneven one.
03/27/08
Loses sight of its most compelling story and gets weighed down by an anti-war theme, no matter how much you agree or disagree with that theme, and no matter how well the cast performs.
03/27/08
Stop-Loss' inability to find any coherent statement to make about what's happening to our soldiers is only a source of greater frustration.
03/27/08
occasionally seems like an MTV/Varsity Blues pop variation of In the Valley of Elah
03/27/08
Despite the sincerity of its aspirations, it's hampered by awkward construction...and Hollywood gloss that cannot come close to the real-life soldiers telling their stories.
03/27/08
Director Peirce appears to view both rah-rah patriotism and a keen sense of cynicism at the same time.
03/27/08
Latest News for Stop-Loss
December 05, 2008:
Female Directors Challenge Status Quo 
Hollywood directors have always been a bit of a boys' club, but as the $70 million opening of Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight" attests, that's slowly changing. More...
July 07, 2008:
RT on DVD: Dark Knight, Mummy 3 Sneak Peeks
This week, we dispense with the news and cut to the chase to bring you two huge new gift sets timed perfectly for this summer's Bat-mania. What will earn you more geek cred:... More...
July 03, 2008:
A compelling postwar saga which compassionately establishes that veterans of the Iraq conflict shouldn't have to be wounded physically to be considered damaged goods.
More...
March 30, 2008:
New Feature Alert! The RT Review Revue, A Weekly Video Round-up
Live from the RT offices...it's the RT Review Revue! Check out the latest word on this week's new releases in the first installment of our new editorial video column. More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds