Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, April 3:
BOSTON
Director:
Jon Dunham
Premiere:
Boston (April 2017)
About:
A love letter to and history of the Boston Marathon.
An officially authorized celebration, and, notably, a demonstration of resilience in the wake of the tragic 2013 terrorist bombing that targeted the race, Dunham’s film recounts highlights from the race’s 117-year history, culminating in the triumphant staging of the 2014 event, sans incident. While there’s quite a lot of material to fit in, the project still feels overlong, full of random anecdotes and characters who probably shouldn’t have made the final cut. Still, the good generally outweighs the bad, particularly as interview subjects reveal aspects of the race’s history that have larger significance, such as the fight women put up to be included, but also through intriguing scandals, like the debate over corporate sponsors and prizes, or the story of Rosie Ruiz, who was stripped of her win in 1980 after witnesses claimed she jumped into the race just a half-mile from the finish. These more colorful episodes help draw in viewers who otherwise might not be particular invested in the sport or who are resistant to its bombastic, manipulative score.
what (not) to doc 