Review of Taking Chance (2009) by Matt A — 27 Feb 2009

"Best film of 2009?".

Of course the year has just begun, but this film will surely hold its own throughout the year.

This film really got to me. I think it bothers me up so much because Chance was my age...actually a year younger. He was 19 when he died, and I was 20 at the time, in 2004. It all happened when I was a Junior in college. While I was in my wonderfully insulated life at Northwestern, grumbling about my accounting homework and writing lit papers on Winesburg, Ohio, so many guys my age were off sacrificing their lives in horrible battles in a war that, to me, seemed a world away. I'm so grateful---so humbled---that they served so that I don't have to.

As much as the Iraq war has been politicized, as much as people rail against it, it seems the stories of the men and women fighting over there get only fleeting attention, and I think that's a crying shame. This film was very simple. Not a lot of action, not a lot of "stuff going on" but in its simplicity there is a very powerful tribute to the men and women who have given their lives for their country. Not since Band of Brothers have I seen such a perfect tribute to our service members.

By focusing on Chance's story, the film pays tribute to every Marine, Soldier, Airman, Sailor, and Guardsman who have given their lives in the service of their country. A very powerful story, that needed to be told.

I was also very impressed with how true the film stayed to Lt.Col Strobl's original action report/journal/essay that was written and posted on the internet only weeks after it happened, called Taking Chance Home. If you're interested in reading that, a google search should bring it up. It appears they are blocking links in the review.

Solid Five stars from me. It's the only film where the main character dies in the first minutes of the film, yet by the end, you still find yourself crying like a baby in front of God and everybody.