Conflicted soldier at heart of 'Stop-Loss'

That's the basic narrative, but of course the real story is the subtext: the impact that multiple stints in Iraq are having on thousands of American soldiers.

The movie motors along so quickly that some of that subtext gets lost. That's where the DVD's extras play a crucial role. They include a commentary track from director-writer Kimberly Peirce and co-writer Mark Richard, 11 deleted scenes with optional commentary from Peirce and two behind-the-scenes featurettes. The commentaries and "The Making of 'Stop-Loss' " give Peirce, who directed 1999's "Boys Don't Cry," the opportunity to explain how her brother's service in the war inspired her to make the film. The extras also provide a sense of how much time Peirce and Richard devoted to research.