Taking Chance (2009) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 11 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 11

8:30 PM

HBO

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 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bozeman, Montana, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

Based on the journal of LtCol Michael R. Strobl, USMC (ret.)

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:

Featured in The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009) (TV)

Excellent and very touching

I hardly give out tens but I couldn't even think of a reason to keep it a nine (I originally gave it a 9 because I thought some scenes were kind of cheesy but I realized I was wrong). I'm not sure what else to say about this except that it really gets to the heart. Kevin Bacon did a great job portraying the emotions of LtCol Strobl. It may be because I'm a Marine that I felt a little emotional at the end of the film but I couldn't help it. As another poster mentioned, it may not reach a broad audience (possibly why it was released on HBO and not in theaters) but I think that's what is so great about it. It felt special to me since I am a Marine and I'm sure anyone else who has lost a family member or friend to a war effort would feel the same. There's nothing else to say except it was a very emotionally strong film and was very affective at reaching it's goal of touching the hearts of the target audience.