First, the Recap:
Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) has a normal, by most standards, life in the suburbs of Boston, MA. Blessed with a loving wife, Carol (Michelle Monaghan), his work as a member of the Boston P.D. certainly has its ups and downs, even as his reputation and driving work ethic put him on the radar of Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman). On this particular day, however, Saunders is requested to walk the finish line beat during the Boston Marathon, one he accepts with reluctance, but dutifully, until the unthinkable happens–two bombs rip through the throngs gathered street side to see the end of the race. With the ensuing chaos and desperation to find out what exactly occurred, a manhunt is soon underway to locate those responsible, spearheaded by FBI Agent-in Charge Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon). As the city continues to reel, perpetrators Tamerlan & Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Themo Melikidze & Alex Wolff) do their best to avoid the authorities.
Worth Seeing: Yes
With a very convincing manner and visually strong execution, director/co-writer Peter Berg takes on the 2013 incident at the Boston Marathon with honor and due respect to all those affected by the tragic explosions that rocked a nationally treasured event. The build-up presented via getting an inside view of the plotting carried out by the Tsarnaev brothers leading up to the truly impacting sequences of the bombs themselves exploding and the upheaval that followed, both immediately and in the months to follow in searching for the perpetrators, is nothing short of affecting and sobering. Solid performances turned in by Wahlberg (doing his hometown justice), Bacon, Goodman, Monaghan, Melikidze, and Wolff are also supported further by additionally key roles played by Christopher O’Shea, Rachel Brosnahan, Melissa Benoist, J.K. Simmons, and a host of others, making this formidable reminder of the circumstances that will never be forgotten, and moreso how a city in turmoil rose up from the ashes, came together, and became a symbol of American grit and resilience.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
