David Gordon Green on making Stronger, his first true-life story
David Gordon Green has always followed his own path. His filmography jumps around from place to place like a topographical map of the Balticsâhitting everything from indie dramas (George Washington, his first feature) and Seth Rogen-led stoner comedies (Pineapple Express) to more avant-garde experimental material (Prince Avalanche). His new film, Stronger, a biopic about Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal in some of his finest work), is most definitely a big-studio film, but even within those strict confines, Gordon Green manages to clear out a lot of clichĂ©s and empty patriotic ramble. We asked him a few questions about the film, which is now playing at Ritz 5.Â
Youâre from the deep South, but this story is utterly Bostonian, a place that is famously difficult to get right for an outsider. Any worries that it wouldnât feel authentic? That the accents would be off?
Not really. I mean, certainly the dialect coach was there to make those adjustments and corrections. And our crew is from Boston. They would have called âHollywood bullshitâ on it really quickly. I havenât heard anything negative about it yet, but again, Iâm from the South. I do the same thing when someone pulls out a âyâallâ and a âyonder.â I get a little suspicious of some of that, but these are great actors and the story is more than that, so hopefully itâs not a distraction.
Was it hard to make a film where the people portrayed are very much alive and watching?
This is the first movie