Rise Again: Review of Stronger

TIFF EXCLUSIVE

Stronger

Director: David Gordon Green

By Alex Watson

While Peter Berg's Patriots Day might have oversold the notion of 'Boston Strong', David Gordon Green's Stronger is a heartfelt picture about one man's struggle. Telling the story of real life Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman, Green shows us the pain and psychological torture a person can go through when trying to get their back on track. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany make for a fine on-screen pairing and the movie's backbone is built around these two performances.

Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a good hearted but unreliable young man involved in an on-off relationship with girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany). One day when he fulfills his vow to show up at the finish line of the Boston Marathon- Jeff's world is torn apart. After having both legs amputated and becoming the focal point of media attention- Jeff faces an uphill struggle not helped by his alcoholic mother Patty's (Miranda Richardson) meddling.

The marathon itself and the manhunt that followed is given minimal attention in Stronger. When the bomb detonates we only see the horror's much later in the picture (and boy are they memorable). Green makes it clear that this is Jeff and Erin's story when we first meet the couple they are very much in an 'off' period of the relationship. Continually criticized by her for never showing up, the one day that he makes good- tragedy strikes. This moment is a recurring source of tension that threats to divide the pair. Afterwards, Jeff is thrust into a hellish world of pain, rehabilitation and squabbles between those he loves best. Patty is a never ending issue in his personal life, continually drunk, loud and bickering with Erin- her desire to show her brave son off to the world is a thorn in Jeff's side.

One aspect that Green portrays very well is the difficult burden Jeff carries being a survivor. Seen by many as a hero and a figure of hope, internally he is barely keeping his head above water. In one scene he is wheeled onto the TD Garden ice to wave a flag at a Boston Bruins playoff game. What begins as a celebration of Boston Strong quickly becomes a nightmarish scenario. Forced to keep up appearances, only Erin can see he is suffering. Green refuses to gloss over any minor details of Jeff's recovery and the audience will feel his pain along with him. Watching his leg bandages being removed for the first time guarantees squirms. There are also other struggles which increase our sympathy such as his tricky (and painful) first attempt at using the toilet. Feeling like he has lost his identity as a man, all these challenges and setbacks push him further into depression.

Stronger is not just a story about Jeff's recovery because Erin's own difficulties are also well covered. Forced to give up her life for a man who has let her down so many times causes a big rift in the relationship. Erin is a source of encouragement and support throughout, but due to Jeff's drinking and Patty's interference, she is often forced to butt heads with the man she loves. What is smart about this picture is that Jeff isn't made out to be a completely likable character. Sure, life has dealt him a cruel hand but he is also very stubborn when it comes to his recovery. When things come to a head, the issue of him still not being able to show up is bitterly thrown back in Erin's face "I SHOWED UP FOR YOU!" he yells with gusto. For a couple whose love is absolute, proving it seems to be the hardest part.

Jake Gyllenhaal gives a performance that should rightfully see him nominated come awards season. Few actors could have portrayed this kind of struggle with the right humanity and spirit. Gyllenhaal's performance is refreshingly down to earth and he doesn't seek to glorify Bauman's struggle. Instead, he makes us feel every moment and every inch of discomfort he encounters along the way and his refusal to acknowledge his hero status. Tatiana Maslany is also magnificent as Erin, fans of Canadian TV show Orphan Black will know already the presence she brings to a role. In Green's movie, Maslany is the voice of support but frequently it falls on deaf ears. In her quieter moments, we can feel the heavy load this character bears. Rightfully Maslany deserves as much credit as Gyllenhaal for the film's success.

Stronger is a movie that is uninterested in covering familiar ground and focusing on the struggle two individuals makes this a warmer and more personal ride.

The Masterplan: Review of Our Brand Is Crisis

Our Brand Is Crisis

Director: David Gordon Green

By Alex Watson

On paper Our Brand Is Crisis should have been a winning political comedy, but despite a fine cast the story just doesn't ignite and the needed tension is sorely lacking. Needed an added bite, the script by Peter Straughan fails to make full use of the interesting satire it has at its disposal. Director of stoner comedy The Pineapple Express and the innuendo filled Your Highness, David Gordon Green was a surprising choice to helm this. Although he shows that his work can go surprisingly deep, Green sadly misses the target. 

Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock) is a political strategist who has gone into seclusion after some widely covered personal errors which gained her the nickname 'Calamity Jane'. An olive branch is extended to her when she recruited by Ben (Anthony Mackie) and Nell (Ann Dowd) to help out with a political campaign in Bolivia. The candidate Pedro Castillo (Joaquim De Almeida) is out of touch with his public and behind in the polls. The real tempting reason is the chance to get one over on her former rival Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton) who is heading the campaign for the opposition.

In some places David Gordon Green does succeed in making Our Brand Is Crisis shine, one sequence where Jane gets drunk with some locals raises the most laughs. The faults of this picture are not obvious but the story is the biggest fault with the story. Jane's past is not nearly touched upon as much as required and we never get a full sense of her inner conflict. Likewise with her relationship with Pat Candy, referred as a "Sicilian Blood Feud" by Rich (Scoot McNairy). This love/hate relationship is not explored and there is a lack of brooding hate which makes their encounters undercooked.  

Politically the story could have been an interesting one as Castillo has already been President of Bolivia before and when he did his privatizing of industries didn't go down well! Electing him to office again is a seemingly impossible task. Being produced by Grant Heslov and George Clooney, you would expect so political depth and perhaps so good commentary on the Bolivian economy. Green sadly only brushes over this area and despite rumours of the country having a possible IMF bail out which could cripple the poorer regions, we are left to wonder exactly what the game plan is? Resurrecting Castillo's campaign does offer some rib tickling injections of humour- Llama gets run over while making commercial, leading Jane to muse "It's like he killed himself rather than appear in our commercial!" Other than these brief glimpses of hope there is a stale after-taste. 

Morally there is a problematic centre about its chief characters as Jane is continually self loathing over the people she chooses to serve. At the beginning we get a sliver of her convoluted persona as she tell us how she believes in getting the vote and not wondering about the politician himself. Jane like others in her field is a gun for hire who after fighting the good war shall just locate the next battlefield. Earning the nickname 'Calamity Jane' has hurt her deeply and she is now far from home attempt to resurrect herself for a cause she maybe doesn't full believe in. There is a big sense of hurt and betrayal on both personal and business levels during the climax. Although the sentiment rings hollow and it feels ever pushed upon us, it does leave our brain cells ticking. 

The principle strength of this picture comes from the strong central turn from Sandra Bullock. Breezing through the movies problems like they are nothing at all Bullock makes great use of her comic timing. Despite having little to work with she easily dominates each scene she appears and becomes this movies main selling point. A woman forever  since her 2009 Oscar win, Sandra Bullock is now in definitely contention for another nod. 

Our Brand Is Crisis really should have been a far stronger and more satirical effort from David Gordon Green but his want to make this centuries Wag The Dog hasn't come to fruition. Lord know what would have happened if he cast James Franco and Danny McBride?