Tim Robbins buddied up with battled-hardened soldiers to research his latest film role - and has dedicated the movie to them.

The Shawshank Redemption star, an outspoken critic of U.S. president George W. Bush's administration, plays a U.S. trooper on leave from a tour of duty in Iraq in upcoming film The Lucky Ones.

To get in character for the part, he visited soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey - and was surprised by their reaction to him.

Robbins tells the New York Daily News, "One soldier said 'I don't agree with your politics but I want you to know there was a guy I served with. He and I didn't see eye to eye politically on a damn thing, bit I liked his character and if there was anyone next to me in a hostile situation, it would be him.'

"I wanted to make a picture for these troops, something they could enjoy. Right now we need healing. We need to understand the experience of what it's like for the troops to come home."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)