When Boston is targeted during the Boston Marathon, the city comes together to show they are Boston Strong. I give Patriot’s Day a B.
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Based on the real-life events surrounding the horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon, Patriot’s Day tells the story of a variety of people who were involved, from policemen to bystanders. It also includes a look at the MIT campus policeman who lost his life and the young man who was carjacked by the bombers.
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Mark Wahlburg plays Tommy Saunders, a veteran Boston policeman who is on the finish line when the bombs go off and assists in the takedown of the bombers. While Tommy is really a compilation of various real people, Wahlburg portrays this tough-as-nails policeman with grit and real emotion. Tommy ties the whole story together. This is a detriment to the movie (and why I marked it down) since there wasn’t any way a Boston policeman could be in all the places including Watertown where the second suspect was captured. As a viewer, I wasn’t vested in Tommy’s character. He was a distraction at times.
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However, the supporting cast is stellar from Kevin Bacon as the FBI agent in charge to John Goodman as the police commissioner. Their contribution deepens the story and takes it from fact to emotional connection. It was great to see behind-the-scenes including all the pieces about how the FBI found the bombers’ identities.
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While Patriot’s Day is a moving story about the people of Boston and the victims of this devastating event, it does leave the viewer with a positive message of love triumphing over hate and how people come together in times of trouble. That’s an important message these days.
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