Patriots Day @ the (Moonlight Cinema) Wed 1st Feb
(Words by Heath Robertson)
Peter Berg’s Patriots Day is based on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing aftermath. Director Berg is like the smarter Michael Bay that makes decent films. The film has a great ensemble cast. I really liked Mark Wahlberg’s performance. John Goodman once again raging out is always a thing of beauty, and J.K. Simmons portrayal of the small town police chief who gets caught in the deadly showdown was badass. Peter Berg shows once again that he is an excellent action director. The gunplay and explosions are just fantastic. When the massive manhunt gets underway in the final act, the tension and intensity really ramps up to edge of the seat levels. But Patriots Day isn’t really an action movie. It’s more of a dramatic thriller.
Patriots Day is more concerned with showing Boston reacting to, and defeating, the threat posed by two disconnected, radicalised young men, rather than the lead up to the events. Berg shows respect for the victims, while demonstrating his knack for the chaos of urban carnage and combat. It’s chilling in places, even knowing how it all plays out.
Overall, this is another incredibly strong effort from Berg, who’s really found a niche in his real-life thrillers, with him quickly becoming a master of the form.
2017 | US | DIR: Peter Berg | WRITER: Peter Berg, Matt Cook, Joshua Zetumer | CAST: Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, J. K. Simmons, Michelle Monaghan | DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow Films | RUNNING TIME: 133 minutes |
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