My brother is a Marine. A few months ago he saw the previews for the HBO movie Taking Chance and shot out an email to the whole Geek clan to urge us to watch it. My wires got crossed at some point, so I didn’t get to see it on its first showing, as was my intent. But I did watch it on demand last night.
The movie is about the experience of a Marine Lt. Col. (Kevin Bacon) who is suffering with a mild form of survivors guilt for not being in Iraq, while his friends are. As an outlet for that guilt, he scans the daily list of causalities reported back from Iraq. He eventually volunteers for a duty as an escort for Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps who was killed in action.
I was most impressed with the ability of the director (and perhaps the author) to make the whole thing devoid of politics. The politics was on the periphery of the main character, Lt. Col. Strobl. I think it was about right, given the subject of the film. Despite assertions to the contrary, most people in America have nothing but the utmost respect for the sacrifice and service of our military personnel.
Dover is presented in a very positive light, although the scene that is supposedly taking place 10 minutes away from Philadelphia International, definitely ain’t. There are no picket fences on 95 south of the airport.
I tried as hard as I could to keep my eyes dry throughout, but the scene that has the Colonel delivering the personal effects of Phelps to his family proved too much for my weak tear ducts.
Go watch it. Do it now. This ceremonious escort of our fallen soldiers has taken place over 4,200 times since we invaded Iraq. We could all use this sort of grounding from time to time.