Mamie Gummer Online

Stop Loss

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

Written by: Mark Richard, Kimberly Peirce

Original Release: March 28, 2008

Genre: Drama, War

Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. Brandon tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his loving family, and his best friend Steve, who served with Brandon in Iraq. Along-side their war-time buddies, they try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against Brandon’s will, under a measure called 'Stop Loss', the Army indefinitely extends Brandon’s enlistment and forces him back to Iraq.

Cast & Characters

Ryan Phillipe
Abbie Cornish
Channing Tatum
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Mamie Gummer

... Brandon
... Michelle
... Jared
... Tommy Burgess
... Jeanie Burgess

Image Library

Behind the Story

Mamie Gummer auditioned for the movie a year before cameras rolled, and the part of Jeanie appealed to her in particular. Her character was not featured in every scene but instead of returning home during her downtime, Gummer elected to remain in Texas. “Kimberly Peirce really knows how to talk to actors, to communicate in a way so that you instantly get it. She doesn’t even have to say very much – she’s been living with these characters for so long and is so passionate about the work, she knows exactly how to get to the truth of their story and how to bring us there too,” adds Mamie Gummer.

This quality was especially helpful because, as Gummer points out, the fraught dynamics of Tommy and Jeanie’s relationship are never overtly stated but rather revealed through the story. “In these big group scenes, Joe and I had to do a lot of improvising to create a relationship without having written dialogue. Occasionally, Kim would just whisper something in my ear, a small note that would be so right on. It helped that Joe was a great actor and a great guy,” Gummer says.

“I just loved, loved the story, this script, this girl, this part. It was so far removed from my little New York City self, to come down to Texas and live in this world. I came across and interview with an Army wife talking about adjusting to him being back and the challenges that she faced. That was very helpful. Jeanie grew up in Texas, Michele is her best friend, they all went to high school together. The guys came back to Brazos after basic training and it seems like it must have been a whirlwind relationship and courtship, they got married right out of high school. Living in Texas, spending time here, watching these girls was really something,” she says.