Monday, April 6, 2009

Taking Chance

It took me a while to watch this one. It's taken me longer to review it.

Taking Chance is the story of Lt. Col. Mike Strobl, who escorts the body of Chance Phelps to his final resting place in Dubois, Wyoming.

It's about 1:15 long. It's devoid of big emotions, high drama, or even a plot, really. And yet, I can barely imagine the soul that would be unmoved by it.

If you're ignorant of these sort of things, you have no idea how much care goes into this detail. The rules are specific and the protocol meticulous. And it's impossible not to feel a measure of pride in the respect given, even if you never knew about it before.

It seems right. It seems the only proper recognition, really. And what's beautiful about this movie is that Strobl encounters a stream of Americans who are overwhelmed by Chance's sacrifice.

And you get, in one small moment, a sense of why the whole mission means so much to Strobl (Kevin Bacon), and a look into the soul of the brothers-in-arms who serve us, often at the ultimate price.

You should see it.

5 comments:

  1. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm under the impression there is a plot of a different sort in this one.

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  2. I'm glad you gave this the thumbs-up. I have read some negative things about it, like it is boring or overly sentimental.

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  3. No, it's done so matter-of-factly, it avoids mawkishness. I don't think there's much, if any, soundtrack.

    And it's from a blog!

    But it does get you, on a lot of levels.

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  4. I can't really describe it, which is why I'm doing such a poor job.

    It stirs a lot of pride, both for the guys doing the job and for the rest of us Americans who appreciate them.

    There are, of course, political angles to be taken, but that would really cheapen something that is decidedly not cheap.

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  5. I recall Victoria talking about this one.

    I have it queued, waiting for release, in my favorite behind-the times medium.

    I'm lucky enough to have the USMC covering my back and side.

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