A Very Moving Tribute; I Enjoyed Patriots Day; 4 Stars.
The movie displays the events surrounding the bombing of the Boston Marathon on the 15th April 2013; now infamously known as the Boston Bombing.
Like any true story surrounding an horrific event perpetuated by low life characters that attack the innocent- we in turn, also see good people step up and show their tremendous resourcefulness and courage; in a time of carnage and crisis.
Mark Wahlberg gives an excellent performance as a police detective on suspension and has to humbly do public duty manning the barricades at the Boston Marathon finish line. Wahlberg is originally from Boston, and it shows, from his performance, that he expresses the thoughts and feelings of the city so well.
John Goodman gives a good performance as the Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Kevin Bacon also gives a standout performance as the FBI’s lead investigator Special Agent Richard DesLauriers – that takes over the investigation from the local authorities; once the bombing was established as a terrorist act.
The movie chronicles the events leading up and immediately after the bombing conceived and initiated by two brothers: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (19) and his older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev (26). In short, they home-made two bombs and placed them near the finish line of the world renowned Boston Marathon. The pressure cooker bombs (designed to inflict massive casualties) carried in their backpacks and casually placed near spectators 210 yards apart.
The first bomb went off at 2.49pm and the second bomb 12 seconds later. Three people were immediately killed and 260 other people were injured from the blasts. After a four day citywide manhunt, the brothers sought to travel to New York city to inflict more carnage. They killed an MIT Police Officer, carjacked a vehicle – their hostage driver escaped and they became surrounded in a suburban street in an outlying Boston suburb; that’s when things went downhill for them.
Admittedly, much of this information provided in this movie (that inserts real historical footage) was new to me.
I thought the younger brother was a naive young man acting at the behest of his older brother; he was, in fact, quite an active and willing participant (he is now on death row).
I didn’t know the final shootout was so fierce, reducing a suburban street to a mini war zone (a police officer wounded at the scene died a year later from his injuries).
And also, the effects of the panicky getaway of the younger brother has to be seen to be believed.
The role of the elder brother’s wife, is yet to be determined but insinuates guilt as she is casually portrayed in the movie discussing the matter with her husband; as if, another ordinary day in their lives.
Stories like this one trouble me. Two brothers who enjoy the American lifestyle, culture and opportunities (They were originally refugees from Chechnya arriving with their parents in 2002; both were living and educated in Boston. The elder brother even converts and marries a local woman); yet they hold such vehement rage against their host country America that they would go out to a public event and commit an atrocity (knowing that they will likely kill and maim innocent people). To vocally vent is one thing but to construct and explode bombs in public gatherings is a step toward sub human sociopathic evil.
However, what I found inspiring about the movie is how the city of Boston came together over this heinous event. And mainly through a thorough investigation and Boston’s civilian co-operation; were they successful in the final capture and arrest of the two brothers. The elder brother died in hospital from his injuries and the younger brother was captured in a suburban backyard; hiding in a local resident’s boat.
Very Moving Tribute. Patriots Day 4 Stars
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, J.K Simmons and John Goodman.
Directed by: Peter Berg
Take Care & Cheers
Jason
