STRONGER. Exceptional Performances All Around

I’m afraid Jake Gyllenhaal is going to end up as one of those actors in their sixties or seventies who have long deserved an Oscar but still haven’t won one—only for the Academy to eventually hand him an honorary award as consolation. That would be very, very unfair. One nomination for Brokeback Mountain is far too little. And what about his performances in Nightcrawler, Prisoners, or Nocturnal Animals? To me, Gyllenhaal is a complete actor—someone who simply dissolves into the character he’s playing. Stronger is yet another outstanding role from him.

It’s a shame the film itself didn’t get enough attention. Though Stronger isn’t without its flaws, it’s certainly a title worth noticing. This fact-based story of a Boston Marathon bombing survivor gains a refreshing perspective here.

Jeff Bauman is a nearly 30-year-old slacker. He works in a store, still lives with his alcoholic mother, and spends his free time drinking beer with friends and rooting for the local team. His girlfriend Erin breaks up with him regularly. After yet another breakup, he runs into her at a bar and learns she’s running the Boston Marathon to raise money for charity. He convinces the other bar patrons to donate and promises he’ll wait for her at the finish line. She doesn’t really believe him—she knows Jeff isn’t someone you can rely on. But he desperately wants her back. He makes a huge sign and waits for his sweetheart to reach him. Just as she appears in the distance, the first bomb goes off.

Jeff loses both legs. Full of guilt—or maybe remorse—Erin gets back together with him. Over time, it becomes clear that Jeff hasn’t changed much, but how can you leave someone who needs your help so badly?

This is the first of several very interesting threads. Stronger is not a typical story of overcoming adversity, believing in yourself, and so on. The photo of Jeff right after the bombing went around the world and became a symbol of the “Boston Strong” movement—but he never wanted that. People on the street wanted to take pictures with him, saying he hadn’t let the terrorists win. In one scene, he responds: “As far as I’m concerned, they achieved something. I’m never going to walk again.”

For me, the whole issue of this overwhelming attention—of turning Jeff into a symbol of the fight against terrorism—was the most interesting part. He was invited onto TV shows, asked to wave the flag at games and cut ceremonial ribbons. His simple—one might even say crude—family was thrilled. They received gifts, VIP seats, even Oprah Winfrey was supposedly coming to visit. They felt like the whole world was finally looking at them, that thanks to Jeff—the hero who “beat the terrorists”—they were finally getting what they had always deserved. There’s a brilliant scene in which Jeff’s boss visits him in the hospital, and the family immediately starts yelling at him, assuming Jeff has been fired. But he’s only brought paperwork so Jeff’s insurance payout can be processed. Their reaction: “Jeff has insurance?!”

Add to this the storyline of Erin’s difficult relationship with Jeff’s mother, and it’s clear the script had enormous potential. This isn’t the usual perspective from which such stories are told. The viewer naturally sympathizes with Jeff, but probably even more with Erin. Jeff is genuinely hard to like. The slogan “Boston Strong” doesn’t fit him at all—he was and still is weak; the event didn’t really change anything. Unfortunately, the filmmakers didn’t dig deeper into these original, compelling issues. By the finale, the movie moves toward rather conventional solutions, resolving many conflicts in a single short scene—like waving a magic wand. The ending feels rushed, forced, and therefore not entirely believable.

It’s a pity, because this really could have been a better film. Still, Stronger should be considered a solid production with an outstanding cast. I’ve already talked about Jake—once again he becomes the character he’s playing. While watching, I didn’t see a Hollywood actor but an ordinary guy from Boston who suffered a devastating tragedy. Tatiana Maslany is an excellent partner—she convinces both in the moments when her character is strong and supportive, and in the moments when she’s had enough. It turns out the Orphan Black star can shine on the big screen as well.

The biggest surprise for me, however, was Miranda Richardson as Jeff’s mother. The British actress—usually associated with period dramas—portrays the hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Patty without a shred of falseness. Pure white trash. She too could easily have been nominated for an Oscar for this role. Perhaps if the filmmakers hadn’t steered the ending toward a safer, more conventional path, the film would have enjoyed greater recognition. Still, I encourage you to watch it—not necessarily for the story itself, but for the exceptional performances.