HBO premiered “Taking Chance,” starring Kevin Bacon, on Saturday night. If you haven’t seen it yet, make time to watch it. “Taking Chance” is unlike any Iraq War movie we’ve seen, thus far, in that it steers clear of any political message. I don’t mind telling you that I find that to be incredibly refreshing.
By the way, I realize that I’m a little late on this but, being just a regular schmo, I don’t get advance screeners of things. Consider this to be like talking to the buddy you haven’t seen since Friday.
Based on true events, the movie follows the experiences of Lieutenant Colonel Mike Strobl and is a moving tribute to PFC Chance Phelps, a 19-year-old Marine who was killed in battle in 2004. Even though the story follows LtCol Strobl as he escorts the body of this fallen Marine back to his family, it does not victimize Phelps. Further, it shows a side of America that I rarely see, living in Los Angeles. At every opportunity the movie takes the time to demonstrate the honor shown by fellow members of the military, as well as civilians raising hand to heart to offer respect. Not even the camera is disrespectful to PFC Phelps – he is more a symbol of all the brave men and women that we’ve lost in Iraq.
I’m often particularly aware of how other actors carry themselves when called upon to portray Marines. Military bearing is not something that can be obtained from the wardrobe department. Kevin Bacon did an outstanding job portraying Strobl. He performed his role with the silent strength that we’ve come to see in many of the members of our military.
While “Taking Chance” effectively illustrates the true cost of war, it doesn’t exploit it for political reasons. Rather, it plays as a tribute to those willing to pay that price for the rest of us.
Semper fidelis.