The biographical drama film Stronger (2016) stars Jake Gyllenhaal as “Jeff Bauman [who] loses both of his legs when two bombs explode during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013.” (Rotten Tomatoes) Award winning actor Tatiana Maslany plays Erin Hurley, Jeff Bauman’s on/off again girlfriend. This film took me by surprise and it will leave those who watch it in an emotional wreck. Anyone who has ever experience trauma, been through depression or had someone close to them go through such experiences will really feel the heart of this film–which is about an ordinary guy from Boston trying to get through the day after a traumatic event. His only way out is by reflecting inwards and seeing the same light that the nation sees him through.
Maslany as Erin & Gyllenhaal as Jeff in Stronger (2017). Image courtesy of IMDB.
The movie opens with images of an ordinary man from Boston. He could be anyone. He works in the food area of CostCo. He has a medium-size family, who is loud, brutally honest, his parents are divorced, he loves baseball & he’s mother, Patty played by Miranda Richardson, drinks a bit too much. But this particular average Joe from Boston, Jeff Bauman, is trying to win the love of his life back (for the third time at least). Jeff loves Erin and she is about to run the Boston marathon. To win her back this time he is going to show up and support her like he didn’t do before. Unfortunately, this marathon is when bombs go off and Jeff not only is horribly injured having stood next to the bomb but he saw the bomber. It is his sighting of the bomber that helped investigators catch the second man on the run and identify who he was which left him an American hero. But for Jeff, he just lost his legs, he is trying to readjust to life without them and deal with the trauma. This is when the story really takes off.
Gyllenhaal as Jeff in Stronger (2017). Image courtesy of IMDB.
It is only when Jeff falls flat on his face, is about to lose his baby and his love, does he admit he must work through the PTSD from the Boston bombing. Jake Gyllenhaal is excellent as Jeff Bauman. He draws out all the trauma, his body moves as if he is without legs and the final scene of the film is perfect. I am not much of a crier in movies and least of all in biopics. But the personal drama of Bauman played by Gyllenhaal really effected me. The role of Maslany as Erin, the girlfriend, is perfect casting once more. You can feel the guilt she is carrying over Jeff losing his legs. She is trying hard to do what is right for him. Rotten Tomatoes suggests the film shows unwavering support from family and friends, but this is not accurate. Jeff and Erin come into conflict. Everyone has given up everything for him, as she explains. And Jeff’s outspoken mother, Miranda Richardson is constantly criticising Erin. As a mother, she sees no one being good enough to take care of her son but her. So, this low point in Erin and Jeff’s relationship is the first wake-up call for him. This loss of love re-awaken’s Jeff’s desire to be better.
The result is inspiring. Director David Gordon Green, cinematographer Sean Bobbitt and editor Dylan Tichenor have put together a great adaptation of Bauman’s autobiographical book ‘Stronger’. It is cinematically inspiring & the message of being strong through adversity, no matter what it takes we can all come out on top–even if it means hitting bottom first–really comes across in the film. This is one of the better post-9/11 films that has been honest, empathetic, personal & sensitive and yet truthful about living in the 21st-century world. This is often hard to do as the history is so rest, raw and fresh. You can still see it in cinema’s now across Australia.
On set with Jeff Bauman (left) & Jake Gyllenhaal who plays Jeff in the film Stronger (2017). Image courtesy of IMDB.
Ps. Be aware it is rated R and does include an intense scene of Bauman when he loses his legs.
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