Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jeff Bauman, the man who lost both legs in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. This story follows him thru the pain of recovery, rehab and depression to the eventual courage that helped him overcome his adversity. His off-again/on-again girlfriend (Tatiana Maslany) and his outspoken working-class family add complications. As I watched scene after scene that should be painful (both mentally and physically), I pondered, “Why am I not moved?” Gyllenhaal gave it his all, as did the entire cast, but until one of the last scenes, the movie never generated much empathy. It’s a personal story that’s sometimes nuanced and sensitive, but never held the emotional heft that would have made it more effective. To see a truly impactful film about this bombing, see “Patriots Day.”
(3 / 5)