Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- somber
- political
- war drama viewing
- political film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film sincere and complex, with strong performances, while faulting its attempt to cover too many issues at once.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brandon's attempt to return to civilian life is overturned when the Army invokes stop-loss and orders him back to Iraq.
Brandon and his friends struggle with trauma, damaged relationships, and the difficulty of resuming domestic life after Iraq.
Brandon experiences the Army's renewed deployment order as a violation of the expectations and promises surrounding his service.
The returning soldier's small-town Texas life is repeatedly haunted by memories and psychological effects associated with Iraq.
Films like Stop-Loss, and why
The Hurt Locker
Iraq War drama focused on veterans, post-traumatic stress, moral injury, and difficult reintegration into civilian life
The Messenger
Serious contemporary war drama about damaged soldiers, military institutions, and the emotional aftermath of combat
In the Valley of Elah
Political military drama examining government decisions, veterans, and the personal costs of the Iraq War
Movie Details
- Director
- Kimberly Peirce
- Release Date
- 2008-03-28
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (288)
Cast
- Ryan Phillippe
- Abbie Cornish
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Channing Tatum
- Josef Sommer
- Timothy Olyphant
- Ciarán Hinds
- Linda Emond
- Steven Strait
- Alex Frost
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Stop-Loss about?
- A decorated Texas soldier fights the Army’s order to redeploy to Iraq just as he begins confronting the damage his first tour left behind.
- What is Stop-Loss like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Stop-Loss as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Stop-Loss violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Stop-Loss as graphic.
- What did critics think of Stop-Loss?
- Critics broadly found the film sincere and complex, with strong performances, while faulting its attempt to cover too many issues at once.
- Which films are like Stop-Loss?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, and In the Valley of Elah.
- How long is Stop-Loss?
- Stop-Loss runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Stop-Loss?
- In United States, Stop-Loss is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
