“Taking Chance” - Starring Kevin Bacon

If Hollywood lives by any rules at all it is by the rules of cinema. A movie must possess certain key pieces that combine to make it a movie. A movie must have a detailed, easy to follow plot. Usually a protagonist and an antagonist battle out the story line. Yet, in HBO’s “Taking Chance” it can be said that the stories hero never speaks, rarely is present in the scene and never once shows his face.

But I’ve never cared much for Hollywood and there is nothing that would make me care about their rules! “Taking Chance” is a 100% King Turk approved flick! Regardless of how tough you are (or think you are) if you can get through this movie without shedding a single tear you are either an emotionless wretch or you are very good at staying in la la land through a 2 hour movie!

The movie is an actual account from the perspective of a highly decorated, aging Marine Corps Colonel who feels like he is avoiding this generation’s war. The colonel is a numbers cruncher, stuck behind a desk and is intimately aware of both the number of soldiers committed to a battlefield as well as the number of soldiers coming home and to what condition they are in. Often sleepless the colonel monitors the casualty reports. When a specific home town is noticed he volunteers to escort the fallen soldier back home to his family. From this point in the movie the viewer is granted a great honor in itself to see the process of a fallen soldier’s last trip home. If for one second you think that the accuracy of this movie is exaggerated you are grossly mistaken. The personnel responsible for preparing and receiving the bodies of the soldiers as they arrive at Dover Air Force Base are of the most professional in their respective fields. The care and honor given is unparalleled. From the gentle cleansing of his dust covered hands to the tender care taken dressing Chance in his Marine dress uniform, the last thing he will ever wear. This sequence of the movie sets the solemn tone that will continue until he is laid to rest on a lonely hill in grass swept Wyoming.

On Chance’s trip the quiet acts of respect by those civilians whose path he crosses are in themselves heart filling. The symbolism and emotion displayed by the characters and the cinematography are in themselves the main characters in this flick as words wouldn’t come close to accomplishing the same thing. Explanation’s as to why the traditions and standards that are undertaken by the escort are short and brief which in reality is exactly how they would be given.  The respect granted upon and individual when they are saluted is vigorously displayed every single time Chance is moved from one place to another. The salute (especially by an officer) is a time honored tradition to a fallen soldier and is portrayed with precise accuracy by these actors.

As a service member myself I have no worse pet peeve than a Hollywood movie inaccurately depicting the military in any shape or form. This feeling either (A.) originates from my gross distrust of the source of the picture or the public words of the actor or director or (B.) from the notoriously anti- American, anti military record that Hollywood has as a whole thus ignoring the important details that separates us from not only other civilians, but other militaries throughout the world. However I watched this movie, very calm and collected just waiting for the Political propaganda to start spilling out, I was delightfully impressed. I really only noticed one, maybe two parts in the film that I thought was an attempt at liberal spin. However after further thought, the limo driver kid questioning why we were even over there is a completely understandable scene. The politicians and the media’s pessimistic coverage failed miserably at explaining the necessity of the war against terror. Keeping in mind that he is simply a naïve 19 year old kid that still thinks being in a band will get you girls, I understand and sympathize with his fear and restraint to commit to the efforts of the soldier he is driving. So again, the symbolism displayed by the youth being curious says far more than explaining that fact would have.

Taking Chance home to rural Middle America was a wise writer choice. The picture painted by the writer/director of an informal memorial at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) with his best friend there to tell the story of Chance’s last hour was in my mind exactly how my community would morn the loss of one of their own, toasting our blue collar beer to his lasting memories, staying out late and then waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare our uniforms for the formal service.  The presentation of Chances belongings to his family in the school gymnasium and the reading of Chances NCO letter while examining his dog tags was brought full circle when upon the conclusion of the service and the rendering of the flags to his parents his father, in quiet servitude laid on top of Chance’s now exposed casket (given the flag was removed) his own medals awarded to him during his generations great war in Vietnam. No other gesture could have said more. No other action a father could provide would mean more to a son than what Chance’s father did for him.

This movie put into pictures a perception that is so very rarely on the minds of American citizens in this age. And sometimes it is necessary, even for me, to be reminded that the word “sacrifice” means something…

Go see Taking Chance.

God bless