Stronger

(spoiler free)

After Peter Berg’s retelling of the Boston Marathon Bombing and the subsequent man hunt in ‘Patriots Day’ earlier this year comes another film based on the same terrorist attack. ‘Stronger’ is a much more focused look at how the tragedy affected one man, Jeff Bauman, his family and friends. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role and directed by David Gordon Green was there any need for another film about this attack when we already have Berg’s accomplished drama?

Yes, there is definite reason for audiences to see this film. The main difference between the two narratives is the scale. In ‘Stronger’ the story is spread out over a much longer time period and the spotlight stays on Bauman. This offers a great contrast to ‘Patriots Day’ as it shows us the lasting effects of this trauma as well as the immediate drama. As you would expect the film has a strong emotional core running through the entirety of the narrative. This is achieved obviously thanks to the true nature of this story but also by how the dramatic and romantic elements of the film are constructed. The film is based on Bauman’s self penned memoir which hopefully indicates that this is a rather honest portrayal of the Bostonian’s struggle to adjust to life after this tragic incident. There is an authentic level of humour included too, much of this comes from Bauman’s comments about his situation but don’t mistake this film for a lighthearted piece as for every moment of comedy there are several scenes of heart wrenching drama.

Much of this is achieved thanks to the wonderful central performance from Gyllenhaal. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him in a dramatic role like this. His last two films; ‘Life’ & ‘Okja’ have offered audiences a different perspective of the actors ability as we’ve found him in a fun blockbuster role and then portraying a wildly eccentric character respectively. Both have been thoroughly enjoying but it’s performances like his in ‘Stronger’ that really make you sit up and appreciate just how good he is. He has fantastic chemistry with his co-star Tatiana Maslany, an unknown actress to me but some viewers might know her from her leading role in the TV series, ‘Orphan Black’. She performs brilliantly alongside Gyllenhaal, demonstrating very well how tragedies like these don’t just affect the individuals specifically involved but also those who have to help them through the recovery process. The drama is at its peak when these two share the screen as they deliver many powerful moments throughout the films run-time.

So even though it’s the second film which follows the events of the Boston Marathon Bombing this year, ‘Stronger’ is definitely worth your attention. There’s many stories to be told from this incident and when they are told as well as this there need not be a limit on how many audiences are exposed to. Gyllenhaal continues to impress giving one of the best performances of his career as survivor Jeff Bauman, a real life hero who deserves to be heard about. The film as a whole is a wonderful tribute to all of those affected by this attack and is a poignant reminder of the human spirit at it’s best.

Written by Hamish Calvert

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Rating – 8/10

Question: What are you three favourite Jake Gyllenhaal film performances?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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