Watch Stop-Loss

Stop-Loss is a drama centered around three friends and fellow soldiers in the Iraq war. They return to their hometown in Texas as celebrated heroes and try to adjust to civilian life. Brandon King, played by Ryan Phillippe, is a natural-born leader who comes from a military family. His best friend, Steve Shriver, is played by Channing Tatum. Steve is very loyal to the military and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The third friend, Tommy Burgess, is portrayed by Joseph-Gordon Levitt. Steve is engaged to Michelle, played by Abbie Cornish. Tommy is already married but has a tumultuous relationship with his wife. Brandon is single but is interested in settling down someday.

After reuniting with their friends and family, taking part in a welcome-home celebration and going on a short vacation together, the three men report back to their military base. Brandon is fully expecting to be discharged so he can begin a new life when he is told that he has been stop-lossed. Stop-loss is a term for the involuntary extension of a soldier’s active duty. Upon hearing he is to be returned to Iraq, Brandon makes the decision to go AWOL, which makes him a fugitive. He decides to drive to Washington, D.C., to visit a senator that he met at his welcome-home celebration. The senator offered to help him if he ever needed anything. He is accompanied by Steve’s fiancée Michelle. Along the way, they stop to visit some fellow soldiers that fought under Brandon’s command in Tikrit, Iraq. Brandon has to deal with his own emotions about the actions he performed as a soldier in the Iraq war and the disappointment of his father and best friend at his decision to run away.

The film is directed by Kimberly Pierce. The three main leads give gripping performances as seasoned war veterans struggling with the after effects of touring in Iraq.