Checked out the new film Stronger which is about a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a guy who goes to root for his on-again/off-again girlfriend who is the race… he looses his legs in the blast and is able to ID one of the bombers.
This is a fine true-life story of a guy who doesn’t get why he’s seen as a hero, struggles with his loss of mobility, battles with his family, and has conflicts with his girlfriend. None of this is bad but it doesn’t really go any further than the movie it is. It is, in fact, exactly what you think the movie will be in terms of its story. Not a slam and, to its credit, it doesn’t go maudlin or melodramatic. But it doesn’t surprise either.
Jake Gyllenhaal pulls off a good performance. He plays the boyish version of himself at first and then manages to carry off the dark and drunk the part needs. It’s another good, mature performance from him. Tatiana Maslaney (from Orphan Black) stars as the girlfriend. She does a good job but I hate saying she has the girlfriend part. I hope she gets more opportunities as lead now that her show is over. The other actors are doing peak Boston accents, almost too much… but that’s balanced by a lot of smaller rolls that were apparently played by the actual doctors, nurses, and fans from real life.
So, yeah, this is a good film that will ultimately raise your spirits. It’s a fine look at overcoming loss, dealing with being proclaimed a hero even though that’s not how you see yourself, and how that effects your friends and family. It doesn’t overwhelm with greatness but it also doesn’t go too far with melodrama. A good, but not great, tone.
Score: 81