Overrated

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Based on the true story of Boston Marathon Bombing survivor and unwitting hero of the time Jeff Bauman, David Gordon Green's Stronger is a low-key and rough around the edges portrait of an everyday man thrust into an out of the ordinary and life changing situation, that allows Jake Gyllenhaal yet another chance to showcase his considerable acting chops.Taking a break or moving on from such projects as Vice Principals and Red Oaks, Gordon Green returns to his more indie focussed and character driven roots to dive into the story of Bauman, a flawed yet likeable Bostonian who is far from your typical trial against adversity like figure.Losing both his legs in the terrorist attack that shocked the world and shook the very foundations of Boston's proud and passionate citizens, Bauman allows Gyllenhaal a chance to inhabit a man whose not only looking to come to grips with his new way of life, but a man looking to make right on his relationship with on and off girlfriend (played well by Orphan Black superstar Tatiana Maslany) and learn to be the best man he can be for her.Stronger is far from what you usually get from these type of true-life inspirational stories, as is to be expected from a filmmaker like Green, and while during its later stages it becomes something more of the usual, for most of the film Green seems more concerned to showcase Bauman's dealings with his proud baseball loving family led by Bauman's Oprah loving mother Patty, played by an almost unrecognisable Miranda Richardson.It's an interesting tactic by Green but sadly this means we never truly get the insight and background to Bauman that would've made Stronger a more emotionally powerful and engaging film and while Green certainly embodies his tale with some raw and genuinely moving portraits of a grief, trauma and personal pain (a scene where Bauman begins to remember the moment the terror attack took place is one of the most haunting in recent memory), there's a lingering sense that Stronger fails to make the lasting impact it could've easily made had the balance been right.Final Say - With Gyllenhaal leading from the front with another convincing and commendable turn, Stronger remains ever watchable and often intimately real but there's an inescapable feeling here that Gordon Green has let an awards worthy turn be squandered on a film that doesn't quite match its leading man.3 swing sets out of 5

I would like to start off by saying how much the acting carried the movie. If I could rate this movie based on acting alone, I would give it 8.5/10. My problem lies within the story. Politics/propaganda aside, the story doesn't have much to go on and its about 2 hrs. I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I honestly don't get it. A nobody gets his legs blown off (yeah it sucks) but that somehow made him relevant? Relevant enough to be made into a movie? The story revolves around him and his relatives and gf. Oh and they got divorced last year so I suppose they could make a movie about that as well?? brb getting my limbs blown off in hopes of my normal life be made into a movie by some really talented actors.

Nearly 5 years ago this year, tragedy struck a major sporting event. Then came two major books covering what happened which inspired two big movies released within a year of each other. One, "Patriots Day", was from the same director who did a movie about the BP disaster, and the other, "Stronger", was directed by an art house director. While "Patriots Day" is dark and grim, "Stronger" focuses on the lighter side of the event showing more of the relationsship between Jeff Bauman (played by Jake Gylenhall) and his girlfriend Erin (played by Tatiana Maslany of "Orphan Black" fame), who is running in the Marathon when her boyfriend notices a strange man who would become the terrorist that stopped the Marathon and cut his legs, forcing him to recover in a wheelchair and telling what happened to the FBI. While they find the terrorist, Jeff falls in love with Erin, forcing her to become pregnant while she lives apart from Jeff after Jeff attends a Boston Bruins playoff game as the flag bearer. In the end, after Jeff throws the first pitch at the first Red Sox home game since the attack, he marries the girl before his wife gives birth to their son a year after the Red Sox win the world series. After renting this movie, I thought this movie was a bit slow in spots yet the acting was well done and the soundtrack pretty good.

Stronger tells the story of Jeff Bauman survival and recovery from being a victim of the Boston Marathon bombings.This film does not shy away from the gritty reality of what Jeff faced. It courageous shows his family and experiences - warts and all.The gentleman in the cowboy hat that helped him has a conversation regarding PTSD that I am sure resonated with many movie goers.Perseverance & American Spirit at its best.Fantastic movie - worth a view.