Patriots Day (15)

Patriots Day is a powerful piece of work that pays respectful tribute to the victims of the horrific 2013 Boston Marathon bomb blasts.

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

Director Peter Berg’s camera has every angle covered and the double blasts are a jolt to the body and soul. It’s pacy stuff too and concludes with a touching, patriotic denouement.

But Berg should have avoided casting his muse Mark Wahlberg in the lead role; he feels miscast in such weighty subject matter. The story also tries to shoehorn in too much cutesy banter and the terrorists are too ‘boohiss’ and one-dimensional.