REVIEW: Patriots DayBy Quinn OxleyJanuary 14, 2017Once in a great while, a movie has such a hold on you that when it lets go, you can’t help but cry. I’ve seen three such films in my life.

Die Hard.

Captain Phillips.

And Patriots Day.

I tend to feel strange critiquing films that focus on true-to-life tragedies. Apart from Mark Wahlburg’s and Michelle Monaghan’s fictional characters, nearly every aspect of the film has a direct correlation to the reality of the Boston marathon bombing. That, combined with the film’s remarkable execution, makes Patriots Day an incredibly powerful film.

The story jumps back and forth between various players in the day’s events, which is probably the film’s biggest fault. It’s obvious that all of these lives will intertwine somehow. But, introducing so many characters in the first twenty minutes of the film, while including on-screen text for some things and not others, makes the film’s early scenes somewhat difficult to follow.

Other than that, though, Patriots Day has little to complain about and a lot for which to be commended. How refreshing to see a film based on a true story without some kind of heavy-handed political bias. The only ideologies at war in this film are love and hate, plain and simple – and war it is. As mentioned, its sense of tension is palpable to the tune of me, during one scene, gasping for air as I realized I’d forgotten to breathe. Mark Wahlberg, J.K. Simmons, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon, Michelle Monaghan – every namable actor and most not so well by name – everyone contributed to the incredible tribute this film is to those affected by the tragedy, and the law enforcement who were called upon to serve above and beyond in the wake of it. Try not to walk out of the theater feeling deeply moved and inspired.

I don’t believe my usual question (“Is it good?”) even needs asking; I’ve made my opinion quite clear.

See it.

Rating: 8/10

2016 © ScreenFellas Entertainment