Taking Chance

Taking Chance

"In April, 2004, casualties mount in Iraq. At Quantico, choices focus on increasing troop strength or only replacing casualties. Lt. Col. Mike Strobl crunches numbers. Stung by his Superior's rejection of his recommendation because he lacks recent combat experience, Strobl volunteers for escort duty, accompanying the remains Pfc. Chance Phelps, killed at 19. From Dover to Philadelphia by hearse, from there to Minneapolis and on to Billings by plane, and then by car to Phelps' Wyoming home - person after person pays respects. Kind words, small gifts, and gratitude are given Strobl to deliver to the family on this soul-searching journey. What are his own discoveries?"

4.5 stars

If it has been a while since you have reminded yourself of the amazing capabilities of our men and women in uniform, then you need to do yourself a favor and go see this movie like . . . yesterday. Now, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch with their own opinion of the war in Iraq I have 4 words for you, "Shut the Hell UP!" That is not what this movie is about in the slightest. In fact, its apolitical nature is one of the big reasons that I am so high on this film.

You might initially think that this movie is going to be nothing but praise for a fallen soldier, and to some extent you may be right. But in reality the movie is not about Chance Phelps, it is about the internal struggle of Lt. Col. Mike Strobl (Kevin Bacon). We all have friends or know someone that has friends in the military , so we know that no one is perfect. But I still have to think that there is a certain amount of inherent respect that comes with being an American soldier, and that realization is not lost on Strobl. The movie covers his round-a-bout journey with Chance's body from Dover AFB to Chance's hometown in Wyoming. And at every turn Strobl makes it his highest priority to ensure that Chance's body is treated with respect and dignity.

The awe inspiring thing is that he doesn't have to go to the lengths that he does. Most of the time, no one is around that knows military protocol. So, he has no reason to stand at attention whenever the casket is moved or stand watch over the body by night when he is forced to spend an extra evening in a Montana airplane hanger, but he does it anyway.

And it's not just Strobl. This movie was based off of his own journal that he kept, so most of it is true. That's why it makes me so proud to see how the everyday citizens reacted to seeing Strobl and the mission he had undertaken. The respect and admiration that they treated Strobl and the casket with makes you really want to step back and appreciate that, while people piss us off everyday, most of us are inherently good and we know the right thing to do.

There are so many moments in this movie that you just get lost in, and Kevin Bacon does a great job of conveying the fierce internal struggle of a conflicted man without saying much at all. Soldiers are just people too and it doesn't make them any less committed to really just wanting to be with their families. So, you really feel for this guy who is just beating himself up inside while everyone else around him is putting him up on a pedestal.

From the marines who take care of his body, to the people Strobl meets on the way, to the family and friend that loved Chance so much, there are just so many points in the film that you just get goosebumps, and if you DON'T get them, you need to check your pulse.