Some think it may have been too soon to tell that particular story, while others may not have been fans of the Peter Berg formula.
In either case, neither this film, or its 2017 successor Stronger, could turn the story of triumph in Boston’s darkest hour into awards gold.
Peter Berg has a knack for picking timely dramas that showcase the heroism of everyone from the American armed forces to oil drillers caught up in environmental disaster.
Patriots Day played to Berg’s strengths, as well as that of his frequent collaborator, Mark Wahlberg, as it took the Boston Marathon bombings and told the story of the ensuing investigation with the same keen eye for detail and respect for law enforcement that he’s always had.