Stronger is the biopic of Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs in the Boston Marathon bombing. The film's strengths lie in the exceptionally strong direction of the opening 40 minutes, which are as good as anything this year, and the lead performances, especially Gyllenhaal.
However, after the exceptional first 40 minutes Stronger goes flabby for the next 40 minutes and then finishes with a final 40 minutes. Does the film need a second act, of course it does, does it need a second act that is so extended, absolutely not.
I came away with mixed emotions - the story is a very strong one, and the for the most part it avoids a preachy polemic, which would have been really easy to go for, the acting is solid, the film itself has an amazingly strong beginning and ending - better than good, but sitting through the middle is honestly, hard work.
Worth seeing, absolutely. But, it would lose nothing by being 30 minutes shorter.
However, after the exceptional first 40 minutes Stronger goes flabby for the next 40 minutes and then finishes with a final 40 minutes. Does the film need a second act, of course it does, does it need a second act that is so extended, absolutely not.
I came away with mixed emotions - the story is a very strong one, and the for the most part it avoids a preachy polemic, which would have been really easy to go for, the acting is solid, the film itself has an amazingly strong beginning and ending - better than good, but sitting through the middle is honestly, hard work.
Worth seeing, absolutely. But, it would lose nothing by being 30 minutes shorter.