Taking Chance

I usually like my movies to just be lighthearted fun because I’m getting tired of the silly people in Hollywood feeling like they have any useful experiences from which to teach me anything (if I wanted to be lectured on morality and life, Hollywood directors, actors, and screenwriters would certainly not be my first choice for the task), but I saw the movie Taking Chance over the weekend and I’m am genuinely grateful to everyone involved for making it. It’s free of any political message, and instead tries its best to be an accurate, respectful portrayal of the true account of a fallen Marine (PFC Chance Phelps) being escorted home and the reactions from others in the military and ordinary citizens. It makes you proud of not just the military, but Americans in general. It’s also very lean movie with about an 85 minute running time, and I was impressed with both the craftsmanship with which the movie was made and the respect for its subject matter.

The story first appeared on Black Five back in 2004 if you haven’t read it. The movie is still running on HBO and will soon be available on DVD. Do not miss it.

11 Comments

  1. Not many film projects arise to the level of “worthy.” This one does. The impact of it is in its simple, on-the-face-of-it, truth. The viewer is left to interpret the unspoken, many unspoken, cues for himself. The ending credits montage solidified the legacy and brought forth the tears.

    Had they titled this film “Witness” it could not have been more poignant.

    I don’t care what you believe about politics or war, you can learn something about the sacredness of Life. And we can always do well to be reminded of the honor to be found in the upholding that sacredness.

    Honor. Brought from a diaphanous whisp of an ideal to a solid reality.

  2. I saw it this weekend, and found it to be powerful and piognant. I thought Bacon did a great job of conveying the many emotions that must be felt when bringing home a fallen warrior.

    Nice to know that some people in the film business get it.

  3. The story is in BlackFive’s book, The Blog of War (available at Amazon, click the link and make FrnakJ some money) and I have to admit, it actually made me just about cry. There were tears but no bawling.

    Get the book. It’s all about the stuff our troops are doing in the War on (Some) Terror and it’s not just war-stories,heck there are only maybe a couple actual fighting and guns war stories.

    The only bad part of the book?

    They don’t have even one war story from Armor Geddon (http://avengerredsix.blogspot.com/) who was a tanker in the original battles and is a great story teller. Check out his archives.

  4. Oh, and you know the coolest thing about Black Five’s stories?

    They have endings. He doesn’t just stop writing them and then restart the story and never finish it.

    Unlike certain bloggers I could name.

  5. The link to Black Five is a must read. Just find a private place and time. More honor, dignity and respect in those very moving words about our citizens and soldiers than in a lifetime of our MSM.

  6. I saw this film over the weekend. I imagined this scene played several thousand times over for our best and brightest who have fallen over the past several years in the middle east. I was and am overwhelmed with the sacrifice that these young people give to our country! I am also sickened by cheap politicians who serve in the role as Commander in Chief and in doing so send these wonderful young people to die!

    God Bless our military and every member of their families! They especially need our prayers and support now with this administration! I am personally going to find some way to thank them and serve them myself!

    Thanks, Frank!

  7. 4 of 7 – Your brother is a true hero. Our nation is indebted to him for his service.

    We don’t have HBO but I found the entire movie online and just watched it. WOW!

    Thanks Frank.

  8. Thanks Sulamie,
    But to be fair my brother didn’t die in combat but in a senseless State-side traffic accident with a drunk driver.
    But the Army Did show real respect and compassion towards our family, and they did escort his body home.
    It helps.

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