Denzel Washington is already appearing in a true life story about a soldier that goes to Iraq having written a book for his son telling him all the things that would prepare him for life, just in case he doesn't come home.

Well now New Line are picking up a film called Time of Your Life which is a “fact-based” film (that doesn't mean that it's all true) about a soldier who heads to Iraq having organised a party for his loved ones in the event of his death. Which, unfortunately, happens.

You can just tell that the studio's have whiffed success with the last story and are looking for similar themed tales. I just wonder how “fact-based” this one is, and why it isn't described as a true story.

According to Variety Special Forces Captain Jeffrey "Toz" Toczylowski died in Iraq after falling from a helicopter in Iraq. Shortly afterwards his friends received an email which had the opening line:

“If you are getting this email, it means that I have passed away. No, it's not a sick Toz joke, but a letter I wanted to write in case this happened.”

Captain Toczylowski had set aside US $100,000 for the party which his friends were invited to attend and that he had planned in advance.

The story sounds like it will be another tear jerker, although I imagine that the script will see the way in which he died altered for maximum emotional feeling.

Film aside, I love the style, and wish I could have something like this planned in the event of my death. Regardless, I would want everyone to have a party rather than a sombre, make everyone feel especially guilty and deliberately sad, funeral.

However is this just Hollywood following a path that is already being cleared?