Boston strong, Berg on thin ice

initially question play their part and the pieces of the puzzle come together quite nicely.

It’s actually the less familiar faces in front of the camera who impress the most – especially Jimmy O. Yang (Dun Meng) – with Michelle Monaghan (Carol) saddled with the thankless ‘wife at home’ role, J.K. Simmons (Sergeant Pugliese) barely registering and the most notable thing about John Goodman’s (Commissioner Davis) appearance being his new slimline figure.

Like much of his previous work (Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor), Berg is more adept at bombastic blow-outs and intense drama than fleshed-out, thought-provoking storytelling.

The film’s highlight – though a tough watch – is the blistering recreation of the marathon itself and the horrendous aftermath of the bombing.

Berg’s camera has every angle covered – including close-ups and security footage – and the double blasts are a jolt to the body and soul. But even that pales in comparison to the distressing immediate fallout as smoke, blood, gore and panic combine to visceral effect.

The quickfire investigation and manhunt that follows makes use of reconstructions and video analysis and Berg even proves a dab hand at small-scale action with a tense street shoot-out.

Despite the two-hourplus length, it’s pacy stuff and concludes with a touching, patriotic denouement.

But you can’t help but wonder what a surer directorial hand could’ve achieved with this haunting moment in US history.