
by Laudemhir Jan Parel

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For what it’s worth, biographical dramas are too often hard to pull off. Directors and storytellers need to be cautious with the underlying melodrama that this type of movies usually evokes. While it’s good for some viewers, experienced moviegoers looking for good or better films are going to be disappointed if all a biographical films has to offer are sappy tears in favor of pitying the real characters being portrayed. Thankfully for Stronger, a biographical drama about the struggles of a victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the director decided to avoid obvious cliches that would otherwise be very sentimental for the viewers.

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Stronger is directed by David Gordon Green, whose directorial works include critically-acclaimed films George Washington (2000), Prince Avalanche (2013), and most recently Our Brand Is Crisis (2015). The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Jeff Bauman, a victim of the bombing in which he lost both of his legs; and Tatiana Maslany as Erin Hurley, Jeff’s girlfriend.

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The story centers in Jeff’s recovery as he deals with the struggles of adjusting to his new life and his journey to becoming a hero overnight after helping the FBI find the suspects of the said bombing. Jeff is stationed near the finish line with a cardboard sign waiting for her girlfriend Erin to complete the marathon when a bomb goes off that eventually kills a couple of people and injured many more including Jeff.

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What he doesn’t quite understand is how he is being honored for the worst day of his life. Losing both your legs is one of the worst things a man has to go through, there’s the physical pain that eventually affects your emotion and the way you think about the future. It’s a gloomy thought not being able to stand up. And the film superbly captures this straining battle of getting back up to your feet as Jeff ultimately experiences the disability of doing normal things without the help of others.

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Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal in his performance as the struggling hero trying to cope up with everything that has happened. He shines well enough in his positive days as if nothing is going wrong in the world which is evident in the first scenes of the movie. In fact, it is his positivism that makes it easy to empathize with him. A man can only go through so much trauma in life - and then he begins to change, but you understand it because the degree of that trauma is large enough to warrant such change. Gyllenhaal also delivers in scenes that require big emotions, sometimes so strong that it becomes hard not to pity him and cry for his misery - and that’s a mark of powerful acting.

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However great Jake Gyllenhaal is, Tatiana Maslany’s portrayal of Jeff’s girlfriend often overpower Jake’s. Her precise delivery of someone giving up everything just to take care of her newly-disabled boyfriend will take you by force. Every time she’s on screen she’s commanding. Sometimes the film is about her and becomes her’s. The movie take turns in showing both their perspectives which is a nice additional touch to show us both sides, how one is being physically pained while the other hurts on the inside.
Stronger starring Jake Gyllenhaal is a real life story of boston marathon bombing survivor Jeff bauman Jeff Bauman became a symbol of indomitable spirit of the city. Jeff bauman loses both his legs after this deadly terrorist attack but never gave up.Bauman is a reluctant hero, uncomfortable in front of an audience but equally unable to say no to the people who want to meet him and who he inspires.The movie’s messages of personal growth in the face of adversity and the strength drawn from family and loved ones.
There is a core message to be found in this real-world Boston Marathon bombing story. And that message is when faced with great loss and misery one should always fight for a footpath back to life and family should offer solid encouragement and care to the survivor.
As for acting, Gyllenhaal is terrific as Bauman and his expressions and body language are perfect. His pain as he constantly falls and learns to walk using his artificial limbs and also the conflicts that go with his injuries shows his brilliance acting skills. Tatiana Maslany as Erin, his on-off girlfriend is perfect: she s his support, his strength but she never loses sight of herself, as well as what s good for him. Miranda Richardson as his mother is also amazing.
I would highly recommend this movie as it shows never give up human spirit and how one can inspire so many people. True heroes are not the one who never falls down, true heroes are one who stand up again and again after falling down.