Stronger - Io sono più forte

Or go on for that matter. While this seems to be about the Boston Marathon bombing, if you are interested in a Thriller/Action movie that tackles that subject matter and the hunt for those responsible, you are better off with the Mark Wahlberg movie (Patriots Day). This here is a Drama and deals with repercussions and human toll and emotions, after a tragic event and how it affects not just someone who got "injured" (putting it mildly, but surviving does not mean one remains unscathed), but the people around him.

Just because this is a very well done movie (and very well acted, no that you should expect differently), does not mean you will like it. And no you are not a bad person if you are not into a movie like this. Some people like to watch movies for pure entertainment - and that is not what this delivers at all. This takes you places emotionally, as you go on the real life story of our main character. Not sure what changes have been made (mostly they do that for dramatic effect, I reckon this will be true here too), but as it is, this can be viewed as an inspiring and uplifting journey (no pun intended)

Gyllenhaal always gives 110% to any role. He nails the Boston accent, and also shows the anger and frustration of the rehabilitation journey, along with how he reconciles with his ex girlfriend. Gyllenhaal not only is a phenomenal actor here, but his comedy shines through too. He does has chemistry with actress Tatiana Maslany.

My big issue is that the characters who portray Jeff's family are all stooges, and they are just loud and unhelpful throughout. Jeff's mom especially is a piece of work and a lot of her one liners are crass. The one credible side character was Jeff's Costco manager, who doesn't have much screen time.

I think what would have made the movie better is showing more of Jeff's anxiety of becoming a father, how he returned back to work, and how he came to terms with PTSD. While this biopic did cover a lot of ground, i admit it was repetitious and uninspiring.

This flopped at the box office, so take your pick. I think it's worth watching this just to see Gyllenhaal's acting range.

The subject matter of this is heartbreaking at times and inspiring at other times - it follows a man who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing - the aftermath, his recovery, and the public perception of it and our societal need to have heroes and how this man copes with that. It was interesting in many ways, but for such an intense story, it often lacked intensity and momentum. I also never fully understood the depth of the relationship between the main character and his girlfriend. The feelings and motivation there felt unclear at times.

The only thing I kept thinking of was how terrible the film made Erin's character out to be considering there was no proper balance in their arch as a couple. That is not the actors fault. It's the script. The direction was great, editing was fine but the script was just a little undercooked.

It feels strange to point out the flaws in a movie like Stronger. The true story is an inspiring one, and Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is powerful, but this film drags. The moments of greatness are watered down by predictable character arcs and repetitive plot points to the point where the movie becomes just mediocre. Yup. Now I feel like a jerk for not liking it more.