MOVIE REVIEW
“Stronger”
2017 – Age rating R
1 hour 59 minutes
4/5 stars
I skipped this when it first came out on Netflix. I knew it was about a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. I was worried it would be one of those bloated Hollywood movies full of cliches where the hero gets out of trouble, culminating in a melodramatic scene, complete with rousing music and a huge cheering crowd.
Well, that’s not what “Stronger” is really about. It’s actually a sensitive portrayal of a wounded soul that works well thanks to the outstanding performances of the leads. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany star in this moving biopic from director David Gordon Green. Gyllenhaal is famous for the wide range of films he has appeared in, including “Donnie Darko,” “Brokeback Mountain” and “Nightcrawler.” Less well known is Ms. Maslany, star of the television series “Orphan Black.” Her performance here should bring her the attention she deserves.
Jeff Bauman is a normal guy and a good-hearted person. He is in his late 20s and has a simple job as a chicken cook at Costco. Jeff is very popular among his coworkers and loves nothing more than going to the bar with his mother Patty (Miranda Richardson) and cheering on his beloved Red Sox. He has an on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend Erin (Maslany), who is currently on the rocks. One night, on the eve of the Boston Marathon, he tells her he will be at the finish line and cheers her on – hoping that this will rekindle their relationship.
And indeed, Jeff is standing at the finish line with his homemade sign, eagerly awaiting their arrival. There he notices a suspicious young man with a backpack, who turns out to be one of the terrorists. Minutes later, an explosion rocks the crowd and Jeff falls unconscious. He is helped by a stranger in a cowboy hat, Carlos Arredondo (Carlos Sanz), who carries him to an ambulance. When he comes to in the hospital, he learns that his legs had to be amputated above the knee to save his life. This is where the story really begins.
There are a few scenes that I found quite powerful. While he is in the hospital, his family gathers in the waiting room to support each other. An unknown gentleman arrives and is greeted with great hostility. At first they think he is a reporter in disguise. When he explains that he is actually Jeff’s manager at Costco, they start booing him, thinking he is going to fire him. When he tells them that he needs Jeff’s signature for the insurance to kick in, they finally realize that he means well.
Another notable scene is when Jeff’s bandages are removed for the first time. It’s so painful for him that he cries out in pain. I had to look away from the screen for a second, it was so nerve-wracking. When it becomes almost unbearable, Erin looks him straight in the face and seems to say through the close eye contact with him, “I’m here for you. You can do this.” It’s a tender moment that shows her true devotion to him.
Much of the film focuses on Jeff’s recovery. When he gets home, he’s greeted by a gaggle of reporters trying to get a scoop. Patty, who has lived a completely uneventful life, thrives on all the attention. At this point, she’s living vicariously through her son. Not only is she an attention-seeker, she’s so annoying at the “welcome home” party that it’s almost embarrassing! All Jeff really wants is to be left alone and try to live as normal a life as possible.
As we all know, Jeff has become the reluctant face of the Boston Strong movement. You can feel how much he loathes the attention. When he appears at a Boston Bruins game, it’s hard to watch him on the ice. But when he appears at a Red Sox game, he’s so relaxed that he agrees to throw out the first pitch. It’s a heartwarming moment that makes you say, “Looks like things might turn out OK after all.”
Overall, Stronger is a powerful film because of many elements that were not included. The lack of victory parades following the news of the bombers, and especially the lack of a heroic, over-the-top, triumphant score, made it a more effective film.
If you enjoyed Tatiana Maslany’s performance here, I would recommend checking out the amazing film she made with Richard Dreyfus called Cas & Dylan, which you can stream on numerous services including Freevee, Tubi, and Prime Video.
Note for parents: The film has been given an age rating of “R” primarily due to the strong language.
Stronger is currently available to stream for free on Hoopla and Kanopy (with your library card) and Tubi. Also available on The Roku Channel, The CW, and for rental on Prime Video.
My rating system:
H A real stinker.
The film is so bad,
you are embarrassed
admit that you saw it,
but you have to rate it
nonetheless.
HH So-so. Not overall
Waste of time, but you
would have been better
to read a good book.
HHH Pretty good. In
In fact, you might watch it again if there weren’t any other movies in your queue.
HHHH One that you
Recommend to friends.
HHHHH So good
They would actually go out and buy it!
About this column:
My main focus is on
Films that in my opinion
disappeared under the radar and
deserve more recognition.
They include the most importantStream and stream indie movies on services like Netflix, Hoopla and Kanopy.
In addition, I will also review notable new movies.
You can find film trailers on youtube.com.
If you have any suggestions, please send me an email to:
[email protected].
If you are looking for more recommendations, be sure to check out my blog: moviejunkiemark.blogspot.com.
