One man’s quest to stand up, forces him to be ‘Stronger’ against the odds of defeat. The film is the inspiring true story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become the symbol of hope following the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Jeff, a 27-year-old, working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany). Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his own battle has just begun. He tackles months of physical and emotional rehabilitation with the unwavering support of Erin and his family. It is Jeff’s deeply personal account of the heroic journey that tests a family’s bond, defines a community’s pride and inspires his inner courage to overcome devastating adversity. Filled with raw emotion, humanity and humor, Stronger is the inspirational real-life story of the man who became the living embodiment of “Boston Strong.” ‘Stronger is directed by David Gordon Green, and is rated R for adult language throughout, some graphic injury images, and brief sexuality/nudity.

The tragic day of the Boston Bombings of 2013 surely changed the lives of Bostonians everywhere that fateful Tuesday morning, but none more shape-shifting than that of Jeffrey Boudain, and in this harrowing true story we are able to piece together the pieces of the many tribulations of PTSD, as well as being forced into overnight celebrity for something that you haven’t even fully come to terms with yet. What I love about this film is truly how gripping and honest its portrayals feel not only in the characters and performances, but also in learning to adapt to a completely different lifestyle. This is so much more than just a new lease on life for Jeff, and the film depicts this vicious struggle with choosing to focus on those matters that elevate this movie from being just another inspirational tale complete with cinematic tropes that we’ve come to expect. This film is a tale of triumph and tragedy, but it adds context and structure to those few scenes of familiarity and pushes them much further than just something that we have seen in outline more than a few times. ‘Stronger’ earns its tears, and does so with capturing the very essence of Boston Strong.

This screenplay is a bit unorthodox in its structure because it has limited dependency on plot, and instead chooses to focus more on Jeff’s daily routine without sugar-coating it. What I found so enlightening about this direction is that where most movies will ignore or simply never mention how something so life-altering can change you, Green feels like it is in those painful details where the real story resides. Most of the captivating imagery is shot from a tight shot in angles, and this is to visually tell the story of struggle and strive in more ways than audible narration. Through capturing these characters at their best and worst, we feel like it is not only easier to understand their sometimes irrational thinking, but also like we are included into this family of crazies, inserted possibly the tightest with Jeff’s struggles that only we see. The film also focuses so heavily on the physicality that comes with learning the routine, and sometimes it is legitimately painful and redundant in its frequency. If there was one problem that I had overall, it is in the first act pacing where the film feels slightly in a bit of a rush to get to the tragic day, and while I can understand that is where the meat of this story resides, those limited occasions of getting to know Jeff and feeling the very tragedy of a kindred spirit is a bit lost in unnecessary rushing. Thankfully, the rest of the film moves along smoothly, and overall felt like half the time of the nearly two hours that we spend in Boston.

Despite the sobering realities of the dark events, what I commend screenwriter John Pollono for is keeping with a surprising level of humor to correspond with the shock that Jeff’s life entails. It may be perhaps the most difficult thing to bring a laugh to an auditorium of people who are watching something so spellbinding and tragic to comprehend, but I’ll be damned if ‘Stronger’ didn’t supplant me with some legitimately hearty supplies of sarcastic wit and adult personalities to coincide. Where most of it comes from is Jeff’s overly-Boston family who choose to drink and smoke their problems away. Definitely not the best role models for Jeff’s recovery, and Pollono isn’t afraid to explore that avenue in true story fashion. Especially for Jeff’s mother Patty (Played by Miranda Richardson), is a surface matter that her true intentions in all of this might be for the stardom that comes with her son being labeled a hero, and even though her love is definitely there for her only child, you do start to see the gears turning in her head, bringing to light the awkwardness of family that you can’t help but indulge in.

The technical aesthetics also render a beautiful portrait for the city of Boston, in all of its rich and prideful traditions. The cinematography is gorgeous, issuing us with some breathtaking views of local landscapes like Fenway Park and Long Wharf North that really go a long way in visually rendering us with the impact of an entire city. One such personal touch that moved me miles was the insertion of actual CNN footage into the real time carnage, and play especially well with the coinciding visuals from Green that are horrendous in brutality yet artistically symbolic for the past that can no longer be washed off on the streets or the mind of our protagonist. These impacts give the film a lot of leverage in showcasing Green one more time to the vapid flocks of audiences that he has already proven himself in with serious films like ‘Joe’ or slapstick films like ‘Pineapple Express’.

I want to talk about performances because this film not only has one committed turn, but two in eye-opening male and female leads. Jake Gyllenhaal has been one of the very best and most committed actors walking the planet today for a long time, but Jeff feels like his biggest hurdle in terms of physical performance to compliment his already stellar delivery. Jake inserts so much personality and charisma into this portrayal, making us grateful to hear that this powerful loss for him hasn’t taken away the heart that his family and the audience will come to enjoy throughout the film. Jake throws himself into each devastatingly crunching blow when it comes to falling from heights that feel like so much more for someone strapped to a chair. What really resonated with my even an hour after I left the theater is that of Maslany as the love interest to Jeff in this story. Initially, her character is kind of shy and soft-spoken, but when we start understanding what she lost in the bombing, we start to see the coals burning fire engine red behind these eyes of watered compassion. I found her performance as Erin to be the Adrian to Jeff’s Rocky, relaying the idea that behind every great man is a woman motivating him to get back up and push forward. When these two are on camera, I couldn’t get enough, and one such argument scene late in the second act between them in a car, had this critic wiping his eyes for the first time this year, casting little doubt that Tatiana is a dramatic heavyweight who is here to stay.

THE VERDICT – ‘Stronger’, like its impacted male lead, chooses to constantly get back up and never stay down by the overexposure of biopic tropes that have hindered recent efforts. Instead, David Gordon Green crafts an entertainingly riveting dramedy that supplies the very pulse for a city still reeling, but getting back on its feet one day at a time. The title might be slightly misleading, but I dig a movie that captures the ENTIRE process of difficulties associated with something that we take for granted everyday. Gyllenhaal and Maslany pluck away at our heart strings, and for this one instance, I too will choose to endure the pain of their seamless precision.

9/10