Taking Chance (2009)
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A Marine officer reflects on his role and the solemn duty of escorting a fallen soldier's remains home.
The story
Based on the real-life recollections of U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, the film follows his journey as he takes on the somber responsibility of escorting the remains of a fallen Marine, Private First Class Chance Phelps. After discovering that the fallen soldier hailed from his own hometown, Strobl volunteers to transport the remains from the Dover Air Force Base mortuary to the soldier's final resting place in Wyoming. The story explores the emotional weight of the task, the protocols of military transport, and the profound connection between the military and the families of the fallen during the Iraq War.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl as he navigates the emotional and logistical complexities of escorting the remains of Private First Class Chance Phelps from Dover Air Force Base to Dubois, Wyoming. Strobl, who feels a sense of envy for the active duty life Phelps experienced, finds a sense of purpose in the high honor of his current role. The narrative weaves together the military procedures of casualty notification, the journey across the country, and the personal interactions with the grieving family of the fallen Marine. Strobl attends both the funeral and memorial service, eventually meeting the family members and returning personal items to them. The film concludes with a tribute to Phelps' life, highlighting his character as an exceptional Marine. The story is based on Strobl's actual experiences and was later published as an essay and shared widely online.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 77
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ross Katz
- Writers
- Michael Strobl · writer; Ross Katz · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Bacon · Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl; Nicholas Reese Art · Nate Strobl; Blanche Baker · Chris Phelps; Tom Bloom · Navy Chaplain; Guy Boyd · Gary Hargrove; James Castanien · Sergeant Robert Orndoff; Gordon Clapp · Capt. Tom Garrett; Mike Colter · Master Gunnery Sergeant Demetry
- Genres
- Historical drama
- Themes
- Sacrifice; Duty; Grief; Military Honor
- Tone and mood
- Solemn; Reflective
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on true events; Military; Drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- The journal of the same title kept by Strobl
- Content notes
- War
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews from critics and was noted for its apolitical nature and its impact on military policy regarding media access.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 16; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 57% · review count: 7
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film · Win; Primetime Emmy Award · Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was the most-watched HBO original in five years.; The film influenced the Department of Defense's policy on media access to fallen service members.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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