Now Playing: Stop-Loss
Rachel Mayhew, Daily Vidette Senior Staff
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Features
Stop-Loss is a movie that has the potential to be a fantastic movie, but in the end, does not end up capitalizing on what could have been a satisfying script.
The movie stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Abbie Cornish as its main cast and centers around a group of men who have served in the army and the repercussions it has on each one of them.
However, the main plot of the story revolves around Brandon King (Phillippe) on the day he gets out of the army, which turns into a day that will inevitably affect his future actions. King is informed that he has been ordered back to Iraq for another tour. And for a movie that began so realistically, this is when it began to become bewildering. Without giving too much of the storyline away, the central plot focuses on King as he wrestles with what to do and the repercussions that will come upon him depending on what he chooses. However, two of the other characters Steve (Tatum) and Tommy (Joseph Levitt-Gordon) are also dealing with the ramifications of what they saw on their mission in Iraq.
The scenes by Tatum and Levitt-Gordon are the best and by far, the most emotional of the movie. However, this is most likely because of the superior acting jobs by both actors. This is a film that can easily establish both as great actors instead of simply eye candy.
The same cannot be said for Phillippe and Cornish. While Phillippe has proven in the past that he has the acting chops to be a leading man, his role in this movie was severely lacking. Perhaps it was the writing as well. The character of Brandon King could have been fleshed out more and the one-dimensional acting by Phillippe did not help either.
As for Abbie Cornish, who plays Michelle, the girlfriend of Steve who helps Brandon, she does not impress. Most of her lines had little to no emotion in them and could have used work. These two actors could not compare to Tatum and Levitt-Gordon's phenomenal work in the movie.
Despite the mediocre acting by half the cast, this was not the main problem the movie faced. For those who get motion-sickness easily, this is a must-miss movie. The camera-work in the movie is hardly ever steady and is constantly shaking. In some scenes, such as in the beginning when they show the men in Iraq, it is understandable, but in a scene where two people are sitting in the car, there is no need for it.
The movie stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Abbie Cornish as its main cast and centers around a group of men who have served in the army and the repercussions it has on each one of them.
However, the main plot of the story revolves around Brandon King (Phillippe) on the day he gets out of the army, which turns into a day that will inevitably affect his future actions. King is informed that he has been ordered back to Iraq for another tour. And for a movie that began so realistically, this is when it began to become bewildering. Without giving too much of the storyline away, the central plot focuses on King as he wrestles with what to do and the repercussions that will come upon him depending on what he chooses. However, two of the other characters Steve (Tatum) and Tommy (Joseph Levitt-Gordon) are also dealing with the ramifications of what they saw on their mission in Iraq.
The scenes by Tatum and Levitt-Gordon are the best and by far, the most emotional of the movie. However, this is most likely because of the superior acting jobs by both actors. This is a film that can easily establish both as great actors instead of simply eye candy.
The same cannot be said for Phillippe and Cornish. While Phillippe has proven in the past that he has the acting chops to be a leading man, his role in this movie was severely lacking. Perhaps it was the writing as well. The character of Brandon King could have been fleshed out more and the one-dimensional acting by Phillippe did not help either.
As for Abbie Cornish, who plays Michelle, the girlfriend of Steve who helps Brandon, she does not impress. Most of her lines had little to no emotion in them and could have used work. These two actors could not compare to Tatum and Levitt-Gordon's phenomenal work in the movie.
Despite the mediocre acting by half the cast, this was not the main problem the movie faced. For those who get motion-sickness easily, this is a must-miss movie. The camera-work in the movie is hardly ever steady and is constantly shaking. In some scenes, such as in the beginning when they show the men in Iraq, it is understandable, but in a scene where two people are sitting in the car, there is no need for it.
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