Taking Chance (2009)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ross Katz

Writers:

Ross Katz (writer)
Michael Strobl (writer)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Based on real-life events, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming.

Plot Keywords:

Title Appears In Writing | Witness

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	LtCol Mike Strobl
Tom Aldredge	...	Charlie Fitts
Nicholas Art	...	Nate Strobl (as Nicholas Reese Art)
Blanche Baker	...	Chris Phelps
Tom Bloom	...	Navy Chaplain
Guy Boyd	...	Gary Hargrove
James Castanien	...	Robert Orndoff
Gordon Clapp	...	Tom Garrett
Mike Colter	...	MGySgt Demetry
Henry Coy	...	Marine Driver (as GySgt Henry Coy)
Joel de la Fuente	...	Ticketing Agent
Liza Colón-Zayas	...	Ticketing Agent
Ann Dowd	...	Gretchen
Tate Ellington	...	A.V. Scott
Noah Fleiss	...	Army Sergeant

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bozeman, Montana, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

This film, like "Bernard and Doris" and Kenneth Branagh's version of "As You Like It", bypassed movie theatres in the U.S. and went straight to HBO, even though it was not actually made for television.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene on the nighttime tarmac where the two escorts meet the camera cuts back and forth between the marine and the soldier. In one of the cuts the Air Assault badge on the sergeants left breast pocket flap jumps from centered (which is correct) to right justified (which is not). When the camera cuts back to him it is realigned.

Quotes:

Korean War Vet: You are his witness now. Without a witness, they just disappear.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience (2007)

Very poignant movie

This movie is basically a documentary with actors.........and very well thought out........it is not for the feint of heart or for people that demand "happy-endings". It is thought-provoking and will not leave a dry-eye in the house. The casting is first-rate, as is the attention to detail..... so many of these type of movies lose a lot due to poor continuity. Kevin Bacon does a superb job, as does the supporting cast.....My family recently had a son of a friend killed in Iraq while serving in the Marines, and the images seen in this movie parallel the emotions we observed our friends family endure. It is a fine rendition to honor all those from our country all who gave the ultimate sacrifice.