Stronger

9 years ago

I posted this elsewhere but it will share it here.

Saw a good film today--Stronger--about the guy who had his legs blown off at the Boston Marathon bombing. I liked that the film almost entirely ignored the bombers and instead focused on the ways in which Jeff Bauman suffered, nearly gave up, but came back not only "Boston Strong" but "Stronger." Almost close to hokey, but powerful enough to overcome what could have been just emotional manipulation. Jake Ghylenhaal is really good as Bauman, his flaws laid bare, his growth from tragedy believable, his messed up family both funny and sad, the ways in which he word "hero" is used and misused--bottom line is that the film deals with the endless varieties of "love" and how different people experience and express it.

Will conclude this post by saying don't waste your film money on Victoria and Abdul. Blech.

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bothell

9 years ago

Pidge: finally saw Stronger today. Agree with your review with the addition that Carlos backstory was very moving.

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Comments (8)

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Original Author
9 years ago
Lynn, I am so glad you actually read my reviews. I'm not really an expert on films, but I do go the movies at least 3x a month and sometimes more, and the Christmas holidays are like a bonanza for me.

Jeff Bauman was a survivor to me, nothing more. Stronger makes him a real person. Who knows how much of the story is true, but for me that fact that he was not whitewashed into a phony hero made the film worthwhile.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Oh my, films were made to be seen on the big screen and that's the context in which I like to see them. I sometimes watch a film on netflix but not in general.
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User
9 years ago
Movie theaters where I live are not close and I live in metro Detroit. I really miss our two theaters on our "Main Street", but small theaters just can't make it.

Thanks for your reviews, Pidge.
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User
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry you are movie deprived, Pure. The closest theater to me is no more than 10 minutes away, and there are four more (one an Indie theater) within 20 minutes or a half hour, not to mention the city theaters for Indies, which are around an hour away. I know I'm lucky in the choices I have.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
You're right, bothell. The story was moving on its own and then also in the role it played in Jeff Bauman's healing. It's so human to work to help others and, perhaps, in so doing, helping oneself. Another factor in Jeff's healing was the tough love shown by his girl friend.
User
8 years ago
Good movie. I liked a lot about it. I think his gf gives him some normality including an unintended pregnancy, that helps him heal. His family is overly emotional and I think would have hampered his recovery.

I read that Jeff is considered heroic rather than a hero and I like that distinction. The real person's story as written in a book, is inspiring so I want to read it.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I def think his family kept getting in the way of Jeff's healing process. He needed the tough love the gf handed him, made him grow up, literally and figuratively.

I agree about the distinction between being a hero and being heroic. The person who immediately helped him was also heroic rather than a hero--he got turned away but persisted. His story was very moving.