Jeff Bauman went to the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013 to hold up a sign for his on-and-off girlfriend Erin, who was running. He was standing next to one of the bombs. He lost both legs above the knee, and the photograph of him being wheeled away became the image of the attack. Stronger is not about the bombing. It is about the eighteen months after it, and about how little Jeff wanted to be the “Boston Strong” guy.
What The Film Covers
Jeff helped identify one of the bombers from his hospital bed, and the city made him a hero before he could walk. He is asked to wave a flag at a Bruins game, to throw out a first pitch, to appear at fundraisers, and he hates all of it. His mother, played by Miranda Richardson, wants the attention. Erin, played by Tatiana Maslany, moves in to look after him and watches him drink and disappear. The rehab scenes are shown in detail, including the first time the bandages come off, and Gyllenhaal lost weight and acted the whole film with his legs digitally removed.
Why It Is Better Than The Usual True-Story Drama
David Gordon Green keeps the Boston working-class family loud and messy, and the film refuses to let Jeff become inspirational on cue. Maslany’s performance was widely considered the best supporting work of 2017 that got no nomination. The real Jeff Bauman co-wrote the memoir the film is based on.
Watch Stronger On GoMovies
119 minutes in HD. Press play above. Free, no account.
