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Phillippe Sheds Pretty Boy Image

By Kathy A. McDonald,

Reuters

Posted: 2008-03-26 11:04:26

LOS ANGELES (March 26) - Ryan Phillippe gained Hollywood fame and won fans with his piercing blue eyes and good looks in the 1990s, but the actor says he has never been interested in being just another pretty face in the movies.

So in recent years Phillippe, 33, has focused on gritty roles in films whose stories are rooted in real-life, such as Iraq war tale "Stop-Loss" which lands in theaters Friday.

Ryan Phillippe Snapshots

Actor Ryan Phillippe who portrays Brandon King in the movie "Stop-Loss" poses for a portrait in Los Angeles March 16, 2008. "Stop-Loss", written and directed by Kimberly Peirce, stars Phillippe as a soldier returning from war overseas and follows his recent dramatic turns in Clint Eastwood's World War II tale "Flags of Our Fathers" and best film Oscar winner "Crash," about race relations. "Stop-Loss" opens in the U.S. on Friday. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
In this image released by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films, Ryan Phillippe, right, and Abbie Cornish are shown in a scene from "Stop-Loss." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures and MTV Films, Frank Masi) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this image released by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films, Ryan Phillippe, left, and Channing Tatum star as two best friends trying to cope with the return to civilian life in "Stop-Loss." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures and MTV Films, Frank Masi) ** NO SALES **
AP
Kimberly Peirce, Director of the film "Stop-Loss" and Actors Ryan Phillippe, Alex Frost and Mamie Gummer attend the afterparty for the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the Gramercy Park Hotel on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop- Loss" - After Party.Gramercy Park Hotel.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15667028), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Kimberly Peirce, Director of the film "Stop-Loss" and Actors Ryan Phillippe, Alex Frost and Mamie Gummer attend the afterparty for the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the Gramercy Park Hotel on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop- Loss" - After Party.Gramercy Park Hotel.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15667027), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Kimberly Peirce, Director of the film "Stop-Loss" and Actor Ryan Phillippe attend the afterparty for the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the Gramercy Park Hotel on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop- Loss" - After Party.Gramercy Park Hotel.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15667026), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Kimberly Peirce, Director of the film "Stop-Loss" and Actor Ryan Phillippe attend the afterparty for the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the Gramercy Park Hotel on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop- Loss" - After Party.Gramercy Park Hotel.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15667025), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Actor Ryan Phillippe attends the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the IFC Center on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop-Loss" - Inside Arrivals.IFC Center.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15666644), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Actor Ryan Phillippe attends the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the IFC Center on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop-Loss" - Inside Arrivals.IFC Center.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15666643), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com
Actor Ryan Phillippe attends the New York Premiere screening of "Stop-Loss" hosted by The Cinema Society and GQ at the IFC Center on March 20, 2008 in New York City.The Cinema Society and GQ Host a Screening of "Stop-Loss" - Inside Arrivals.IFC Center.New York, NY United States.March 20, 2008.Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com..To license this image (15666642), contact WireImage.com
WireImage.com

"Stop-Loss," written and directed by Kimberly Peirce, stars Phillippe as a soldier returning from war overseas and follows his recent dramatic turns in Clint Eastwood's World War II tale "Flags of Our Fathers" and best film Oscar winner "Crash," about race relations.

As he looks to the future, Phillippe said he wants to explore more quirky and offbeat roles.

"I'm looking now to go into a more character-based direction that is maybe not as straightforward as some of the stuff I've done recently," the actor told Reuters. "Right now I'm more interested in getting a little wild."

Peirce's first film, "Boys Don't Cry," about a transgendered character, was a box office and critical hit for a low-budget film and garnered Hilary Swank a best actress Oscar.

In "Stop-Loss," Phillippe portrays Brandon King, an army sergeant who comes home to a welcoming parade only to find himself stop-lossed -- ordered to return to duty even after his volunteer contract ended.

His dilemma raises numerous conflicts for Phillippe's character and his fellow soldiers, played by Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as well as the women they come home to.

HARD SELL AT BOX OFFICES

Phillippe said he does not see the movie as about the war so much as about how the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have impacted U.S. men and women at home.

Last year several war movies such as "In the Valley of Elah" flopped at box offices, and while he acknowledged the failures of those films to attract audiences, Phillippe said "Stop-Loss" has an edgy and youthful energy.

"We're different in as much it's about the soldier and the soldier's perspective," Phillippe said. "Ours doesn't get into political territory. Ours doesn't preach."

Moreover, "Stop-Loss" has a female's perspective coming from the mind and eye of writer-director Peirce, and Phillippe said Hollywood needs to nurture more women storytellers.

"I know how difficult it can be for women, sometimes, in this industry," he said.

Indeed Phillippe's ex-wife Reese Witherspoon has risen to the top of Hollywood's A-list but only recently was able to produce her own film, "Penelope," about a young woman who is outcast from society due to her disfigured nose.

Though his and Witherspoon's divorce falls under "gossipy, personal stuff" that Phillippe won't discuss, he will talk about the paparazzi who track his, Witherspoon's and their two children's daily moves, snapping pictures in private moments.

"You're a sitting duck and a target they can rely on at any point in time because you're in a car and you're easily followed," Phillippe said. "Every day of my life, as I leave my neighborhood, someone is following me."

A reported off-screen romance between he and "Stop-Loss" co-star Abbie Cornish has fueled speculation about his love life, but Phillippe disregards all the stories.

"I try to not to spend too much time worrying about what people think about me or I'd end up in a cave," he said.

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2008-03-26 07:58:41

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133 comments

hni5909916 05:37:09 PM Mar 29 2008

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Ryan Phillippe sucks too !!!!!

hni5909916 05:36:18 PM Mar 29 2008

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Stop-Loss sucks !!!!!

Suplickia7 12:23:04 PM Mar 28 2008

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Please, give this movie a chance! This movie is from and based on real life -it's not about unpatriotic people. The writer and director has a brother who joined the army at 18 after 9/11, and began documenting soldier's accounts in 2003, and was given first hand information, videos -sometimes from cameras attached to their humvees and guns. It evolved from a documentary into a burden to tell one soldier's story, was shot in Morocco during Ramadan, had 65 drafts moving it towards a political balance that should satisfy red and blue states, addresses important and misoverlooked topics like PTSD, and is a realistic must see for civilians trying to understand/cope with what our soldiers have seen and might be experiencing, and was not intended to offend anybody.

Drjeff21 09:42:44 AM Mar 28 2008

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Here is a novel idea; how would it be if Hollywood actually made a movie that praises the patriotism, service and sacrifice of the vast majority of the service members who proudly serve the US? But wait, that cannot happen; the far-left anti-military agenda is the rule in Hollywood.

Jarsd43 02:21:02 AM Mar 28 2008

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Ryan Phillippi is anything BUT a class act. He slammed his then wife (Reese Witherspoon) in the back so hard that she almost fell when she won the Golden Globe for "Walk the Line". His envy was out of control. He made a fool out of himself when he tried to tell people not to call his girlfriend "the other woman" even though she most assuredly was! I don't like the guy and the only thing pretty about him is his face. Being loved by Reese was not good enough for him, he wanted to be her. How sad that she ever got mixed up with such an ass.

Xpsgracie 07:07:18 PM Mar 27 2008

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He totally turned me off when he whined to the papers not to call the **** he had an affair with (which broke up his marriage) 'the other woman'. Would have had more respect if he would have said "ya know, I did not handle this the best way". A jerk and a big baby.

PenLady708 11:50:47 PM Mar 26 2008

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dpsasso 01:33:23 PM Mar 26 2008

In 10 or 20 years he will grow old and look like a lot of old people. He can wait.

I disagree, I see him still looking good when he's as old as Paul Newman... :o)

Glory25420 11:50:22 PM Mar 26 2008

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I like him because he seems to be a good father. Plus he's cute.

tk155 03:00:55 PM Mar 26 2008

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go hellary go, go ,go

kasel1 02:37:01 PM Mar 26 2008

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never heard of him

blueyes4jma 02:15:06 PM Mar 26 2008

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I think he is hot and a good actor

mfischermedia 02:10:06 PM Mar 26 2008

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your pretty and a boy.....and i'll be happy to "play" with you anytime

mpdelano 02:09:41 PM Mar 26 2008

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He's gay and always will be.

lnoft97 02:00:39 PM Mar 26 2008

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I personally never thought he was very good looking. Weird hair! But I think he's talented and am glad to see he's going forward in his career. Let us not forget - it CANNOT have been EASY being married to control-freak Reese Witherspoon. (Not that I have anything against her, I admire her, her ambition and control, and she doesn't make a jackass out of herself in public like some other big names we all know.)

mergelkamp5 01:57:59 PM Mar 26 2008

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according to all the publicity he was jelous of his wifes stardom leaving his in the dust. first of all, reese is on of the highest paid actresses in hollywood and has been for years so not many people could keep up with her scale period. secondly, if you are threatened by your wifes career, not matter what it is, then you don't have a very high level of self esteem. AND he rarely ever looks like a happy person and even when he smiles it looks strained. if you're not happy with yourself it doesn't matter who you're with or what the do or their level of success. i sure hope he gets SOMETHING to make him happy and give him a genuine smile!

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