MovieChat Forums > Patriots Day (2017) Discussion > Is it wrong to call this 'a good movie'?...

Is it wrong to call this 'a good movie'?

posted 5 years ago by CinemaDemon989 (1286)
9 replies | jump to latest

It seems like this film sort of profited off of a tragedy. I remember the Boston bombing back in 2013 like it was yesterday. Such a crazy situation. But how do you feel about this film? Is it wrong to have enjoyed it, considering the dark and touchy subject matter it revolves around? But on the other hand, I guess this film's existence doesn't really make a difference to the actual event. Whether this film was made or not, it still doesn't disregard the event that took place. I was surprised that this film actually paid attention and gave a story platform for the attackers. Usually, films that contain such controversial subject matter like this, typically don't give the attackers any personal or in-depth screen time. What I liked about this film is that it showed all perspectives, coming from the attackers, law enforcement, and victims. It gave this film a viewpoint from an honest and raw perspective, rather than just showing one side of the story. And it really showed the true effort law enforcement went through to bring the attackers to justice.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Theres a similar debate raging here in the UK , where a film detailing the fun story of two ten year olds who kidnapped a toddler from a shopping centre , lead him away to a disused railway and beat him to death (in the 80s) is being not only distributed, but nominated for awards!

[–] kenburke (2279) 5 years ago

A "good movie?" This is a GREAT movie!!! U.S.A.!!! U.S.A.!!! U.S.A.!!!

[–] CinemaDemon989 (1286) 5 years ago

Well, I wasn't trying to turn this into a debate about patriotism. I'm not dissing the USA. I'm simply just trying to discuss the morality behind the film. Jeez! Lol

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

As you probably know, Mark Wahlberg (and Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck, and R_Kane) is a Boston boy. I think Patriots Day (which is a Massachusetts holiday that comemmorates the battle of Lexington-on-Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution) is a movie that is a work of love, and as far from being a cash-grab as is humanly possible. I thought it told its true story with outstanding taste yet candor, palpable passion, respect, FEELING and love. Mark Wahlberg loves Boston. He would not let himself be attached to a crass project. To those of you who call this a great movie: I agree, but I have to recuse myself. I am too close to the subject. Formal criticism of any artform demands that the critic (not the “reviewer,” the CRITIC, dammit!) have a disinterested distance from the work. I have neither distance nor disinterest; but, for this topic’s OP question, that’s okay: I say, enjoy the DAYLIGHTS out of this, because it nails its target smack-dab dead-center and, you know what else it does?, in our society where The Social Contract is probably something that most people think is a document drawn up by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & How, this film is a documentary of an American megalopolis working TOGETHER, as a team, to take care of itself. Not in the 50s, today! We can still do it. We can still all acknowledge that we’re all in it together. Leaving the issue of art aside, that is a GREAT and much needed message that Patriots Day delivers. Bravo.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 5 years ago

Should we never make movies about any tragedy? Should we never make a 9/11 movie? Or films about the Holocaust?

I have no problem with enjoying this movie and calling it a good one. A very good one, actually. I thought it should've been nominated for Best Picture in its year. Instead, it got completely snubbed and also failed at the box office.

[–] CinemaDemon989 (1286) 5 years ago

Well, personally speaking, I enjoyed it. It's a great movie. I just wanted to get other viewer's feedback.

[–] BillySlater (4093) 4 years ago

I only heard about this movie recently. I heard it got snubbed because it was considered "Anti-Islamic".

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8289) 4 years ago

I mean, if making a movie about actual Muslims who perpetrated a real-life terrorist attack on American citizens makes a movie anti-Islamic, then it is.

Fuck those people. It's a good movie.

[–] janoss (206) 3 years ago

Which is odd because it's not anti-Islam in any way. It goes out if it's way to ensure that it's neutral. It mentions that they weren't looking for white kids and it was a mistake. It mentions several times that they don't want people to freak out and harm Muslims. There's a whole bit at the end about how all violence is bad and that Boston stands with Islamabad.
It's mega not anti-Islamic.