Patriots Day (2016), R, ★★★

Mark Wahlberg as a Boston policeman.

I remember the Boston Marathon bombing not too long ago as I witnessed the news on CNN and the actual event on YouTube and it is horrifying to witness a terrorist bombing in an annual event where kids and other loved ones can watch their husbands/wives/father/mother/brother/sister simply accomplishing a marathon run that they have prepped for months. This was one of the worst events in American history as it again involved a terrorist bombing and innocent lives. Even though, the movie covers the event. It also covers the investigation of how the bomb got in place and who was involved. It was great to watch a movie about people doing a great job working and uniting by catching the perpetrator(s). It is a solid movie about a myriad of people's unity and strength that Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg can do real well.

The movie follows some people in a shaky beginning in which Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) comes home late with a limping leg after arresting a suspect who wakes up his wife, Carol (Michelle Monaghan). We also follow a couple named Patrick Downes (Christopher O'Shea) and Jessica Kinsky (Rachel Brosnahan) having a meal and discussing about the marathon which they will go later that day. We also follow a Chinese student named Dun Meng (Jimmy O. Yang) and Katherine Russell (Melissa Benoist) tending to his daughter while her husband, Tamerlan Tsarnev (Themo Melikidze) and his brother, Dzokhar (Alex Wolff) are planning something but together.

We also follow Watertown Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) getting his wife a blueberry muffin. However, the Patriots Day Marathon goes on later and as two backpacks are being dropped at two separate areas but as runners are heading down the street, an explosion goes off. Before most people can react, another explosions goes off a few blocks down the street. Runners and fans are injured with some of their limbs injured or mangled. FBI Special Agent in Charge Rick Deslauriers (Kevin Bacon) does not label the event as an act of terrorism but knows that terrorists have done it. Rick has all of the authorities working on the case.

Michelle Monaghan amongst the crowd cheering.

This is a solid movie that focuses again on the theme of unity as it is "Boston Strong" as the FBI and the Boston Police Department track down the culprits who placed the bombs in different parts of the area. I could not help but admire director Peter Berg's winning spirit because even though tragedy strikes amongst Bostonians, it has an uplifting end as (well, it is sort of a spoiler but even though you have known regarding the news) the terrorists have been found. The end nearly tear me up as we see the real authorities in the present displaying their spirit.

Most of the cast is strong in this movie as Mark Wahlberg again gives another committed performance as he embodies a policeman who is on duty and that is strong to find out who incited the bombing. JK Simmons, John Goodman, Melissa Benoist, Jake Picking and Kevin Bacon are really solid as people who do not look like caricatures that are pretending to do their job or being players of an event. I thought that Michelle Monaghan was underutilized as Wahlberg's wife as she is set aside for most of the second half of the film.

I thought that the first 20-30 minutes was shaky and not as structurally strong as we have to focus on some victims or suspects of the event and I felt it was so conventional and/or coincidental where you have to be thinking, "Oh, this person is going to be important later." So, even though the suspense is lessened a bit but even though you know what will happen, the suspense is tantalizing as we witness one person carjacked and is questioned as to whether or not Muslims were responsible for 9/11. It is a relevant question. I wanted more questions brought upon and a more succinct structure but Berg creates some tension and some humility onto an event that triggered a city and a nation after the Newtown school shooting which is briefly brought upon. He pays homage onto an event that could supposedly be argued upon if a movie about was event was filmed too soon but this movie works a good testimonial for hope than a complete product, but, even though it does not reach the heights of Lone Survivor, it is a solid movie by Berg and Wahlberg, their third collaboration together.

***