Kerry Dougherty

Kerry Dougherty's column appears in the Hampton Roads section of The Virginian-Pilot every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Read it in print or in ePilot. You also can follow Kerry on Twitter: twitter.com/kerrydougherty

Category: Local News

■ 23 February 2009 | 11:12 AM

Taking Chance

If you don't have HBO, find someone who does.

Invite yourself over next time "Taking Chance" is being shown.

This breathtaking short film - it runs about one hour 15 minutes - is astonishing. I watched it twice last weekend. If I don't turn on HBO again for the rest of the year, I've gotten my money's worth.

The story is based on the journal of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a Marine who volunteered in April, 2004, to escort Pfc. Chance Phelps home to Wyoming after the young Marine was killed in Iraq. Stroble co-wrote the screenplay, which may account for its relentless quiet and Marine-like restraint. There are long pauses in dialogue and a gentle, moving score. Moving, not maudlin.

Even more remarkable - for Hollywood - the filmmakers resist using the final journey of Chance Phelps to make cheap political points. I'm guessing that's due to Strobl's involvement in the project.

The viewer does not see the explosion that killed Phelps. Neither do we see his face. But the silent scene where the "angels" at the Dover mortuary are gently cleaning the battle grime from the young man's fingernails will rip your heart out.

A lean and focused Kevin Bacon plays Strobl. He's never been better. The strong supporting cast offers poignant, small moments throughout. There are the groundskeepers in Dover who wordlessly remove their caps as a hearse drives by. The airline employee who upgrades Bacon to first class. The passengers who disembark in Wyoming and stop to honor the dead Marine who flew home with them in the cargohold. The impromptu funeral procession that forms along a ribbon of highway in the mountains of Wyoming.

I'm not a film reviewer, I'm not doing this made-for-HBO movie justice.

Just see it.

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Unbelievably moving

Submitted by MarioFiermonte on Thu, 02/26/2009 at 4:32 pm.

My family and I have seen this film 3 times in the last week. It gets us every time.

Next time you wonder if (as is being discussed now in the media) if President Obama should lift the ban imposed by Bush on coverage of Dover AFB's mortuary, you will understand why such a ban is important, regardless of whether President Bush had motives to hide the casualty numbers or not.

In my opinion, it would be a dire mistake to invade the privacy of these grieving families and denigrate the honor of the deceased while they are being prepared for burial.

I heard today that Obama's administration is considering giving the rights of such coverage to the family members. Maybe that will work, but viewing the movie will give you a real sense of what happens in Dover.

Do you really want TV reporters there?

Think about it.

Thanks...

Submitted by C.B. on Thu, 02/26/2009 at 3:33 pm.

Thanks for posting this. I wouldn't known otherwise and you are correct, I watched it and it is a fantastic movie that is highly recommended for anybody.

I watched...

Submitted by msanders1409 on Mon, 02/23/2009 at 4:37 pm.

...and it is almost a tear-jerker from the start; by the end of the movie I was overcome with emotion. This is one of the finest movies I have ever seen...a remarkable portrayal of an event too common these days. Please watch, it is fantastic.