By RICHMOND B. ADAMS
Mark Wahlberg’s Patriots Day is just that: an examination of American patriotism in the aftermath of 9-11, the Iraq War, and the 2008 economic crisis. The film portrays the 2013 bombings at the Boston Marathon race, and the efforts of local, state, and national authorities to find the perpetrators. Given that the race reflects the American Revolution 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord, the attacks became a means by which to ponder the nature of patriotism as an idea through which all who love freedom can overcome whatever differences we may have in national unity. In such pondering, Wahlberg’s film succeeds The Patriot (2000), Patriot Games (1992), and, among others, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
As it begins, Boston police sergeant Tommy Saunders (Wahlberg) investigates a somewhat generic crime on the day of the marathon race. Having overcome some trouble within the department as well as carrying pain both physical and emotional, Saunders has a sense of empathy that is linked to an internal moral center. John Goodman portrays Police Commissioner Davis, who allows Saunders’ connection with the victims, along with FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon), to guide his investigation. The film, with purposeful melodrama, uses the relationship between these men to provide a metaphor for Americans “coming together” during times of crisis. The actions of the terrorists, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Themo Melikidze and Alex Wolff) will not, as the film indicates, transcend Americans who “stand strong” against chaos and carnage.
While an overall solid presentation, the film does use excessive language and scenes of violence that interfere with its efforts to heal an all too obvious contentiousness in American life. All the same, I am not sure how to balance realism with excessive sensationalism. As we continue to ponder the nature of patriotism, to which this film adds a welcome addition, perhaps that is one way we might continue to do so.