Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
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Movie Reviews of Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
Movie Review: We Lack Contentment
Summary: 4 Stars
Terrific movie, absolutely worth seeing.
I have been an Olympic-style lifter and bodybuilder for over forty years. Years ago, not happy with my progress, I tried Dianabol, but only for six weeks. Primarily because of genetics, I was never very good at the "iron sports". Too tall, too skinny. I can admit now that the primary reason I lifted was, like most guys, to get bigger and stronger, to impress girls, to make myself feel better about myself. But with me, it went beyond that: I felt inferior to other guys, on many levels. I wanted to be better than them, to be able to intimidate them, and if I couldn't do it with money or education, at least I could do it with my physique and my poundages. I may be wrong, but I believe that a psychologist might suggest that there is a significant amount of immaturity and desperation in such thinking.
I'm not saying that this is the case with every guy, but I'd say it's not far from the truth. A lot of us want to be able to say "I'm the biggest, baddest guy in this room". If we only lifted to improve ourselves physically, and were able to keep it in perspective, we wouldn't be using steroids, HGH, testosterone, etc.. Guys wouldn't sacrifice their families and their health just to get to a bodybuilding title or world record bench. Women would not end up looking like freakish gender anomalies. Years ago, they asked a group of world-class athletes the following question: If you knew (1) you could win an Olympic gold medal by taking steroids, would you do it? Vast majority said "yes". And then the key followup question: (2) If you knew that, as a result of taking the "juice", you'd be dead within five years of winning your medal, would you still do it? Again, vast majority said "yes". To me this epitomizes the egocentric and distorted thinking of many--not all--of the folks who do steroids. What about the rest of your life? What about your grandkids?
This is a must-see film for anyone who's ever felt the deep and heavy bite of the "iron bug". Chris Bell does a wonderful job, particularly in how he involves his family in the whole project. He and his brothers have, and are, hoisting some truly incredible poundages. If you can do a 500-lb. bench, you are way, way above what most gym rats could ever hope to do. But to be able to do 600....700....this is amazing. But in the whole scheme of things, is it worth it? What meaning does any athletic achievement, regardless of whether it's done with or without "help", really have? Does it do anyone any good, other than feed an individual ego?
I've personally known guys who have for years been on and off modest amounts of steroids, and their health seems fine. On the other hand, I've known lifters and wrestlers who went over the line with the drugs and are now dead, due to massive heart attacks.
As for myself, I will continue to lift for health, and I will not become obsessed with it, like I used to be. If I had continued with steroids, I believe that, with my personality, I would have taken too much. I thank God for that night, when I was in bed trying to sleep, so many years ago, when, in my second month of Dianabol, I noticed that my heart was pounding a mile a minute and it felt like it was going to explode. The next day, the headaches.....Bottom line: It scared the hell out of me, and I stopped forever.
Movie Review: Steroids as a path to celebrity and admiration
Summary: 4 Stars
The documentary 'Bigger Stronger Faster' provides valuable insight as to why so many non-professional athletes turn to steroids to make their muscles larger. The majority of the main characters are struggling with an addiction to being admired and we discover the sons' answers to the question 'what do I want my body to look like and what am I willing to do to achieve that goal?'
The mother is overweight, but still cooks fattening food. Is it because she needs the praise that she recieves from making delicious foods more than she needs to be at a healthful weight?
She raises three sons, and all three struggle with their weight as children, each turning to exercise to mold their bodies, and eventually steroids to improve their results. The oldest and youngest brothers have become dependant on steroids to provide them with bodies that give them the same kind of approval from others that their mother's cooking gives to her. We see the profile of a "wrestler" who is unsatisfied with coaching other athletes because he wants the limelight, and continues to audition for wrestling stardom. We see a "weightlifter" who only achieves the type of praise he craves when he can lift weights that are too heavy to handle without the help of steroids.
Bell spends part of the documentary linking the American obsession with "winning" and the use of steroids. The Bell family is really not so obsessed with 'winning' as they are with being in the limelight and being admired. For the oldest and youngest sons, steroids are the path that they take to achieve this goal.
The filmmaker tells us that he was disillusioned by the fact that his idols all used steroids, which in his minds invalidated the advice that kids could achieve their dreams through hard work and clean living. They completely missed the fact that each of the 'heroes' gave back by helping others to achieve their goals. Arnold encouraged kids to become physically fit, Hulk was famous for telling kids to say their prayers and do right, and Rocky loved his wife, family and coach. A real role model doesn't just 'win' they help and inspire others. The one brother that does find a coaching job dismisses the opportunity to share his knowledge and motivate others by saying "those who can't do, train."
As a long distance runner, I achieve the type of body I want through diet, running and lifting weights. I want to compete in a half marathon more than I want to sleep in, eat a tray of brownies or lay on the couch and watch TV, so I dedicate myself to training. It is the same with these brothers and the other athletes that Bell interviews in the documentary. The sticking point is when having a 'normal life' with a happy family, rewarding job and healthy body is LESS important to the athlete than his/her body image and the respect and kudos that are gained by athletic prowess. Steroid use is a warning sign that their lives and priorities are out of balance.
Movie Review: Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
Summary: 4 Stars
"That, that, that don't kill me, can only make me stronger." Kanye West-"Stronger"
`Bigger, Stronger, Faster' is fair, fun, and informative. Thoroughly taking every angle on the issue of steroid use, filmmaker Christopher Bell has ample material to back up his case for and against one of the most used and abused drugs going nowadays.
First he focuses on his own family. He is the middle child of three boys. Mike "Mad Dog" Bell is the eldest, and Mark "Smelly" Bell is the youngest. All three have aspirations of bigness. Literally. Mark wants to be a professional wrestler, and Mike wants to be a champion power-lifter. All three have used steroids. Chris, the narrator, only used it once, but stopped because he thought it was "immoral". This openness may have us questioning his credentials, but he is as thorough as he is fair.
Among his interviewees are John Romaro, senior editor of `Muscular Development,' Dr. Guy Wilder, New Jersey Congressman, Henry Waxman, Floyd Landis, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson. His highlights include video clips from several steroid scandals, including the ones on Capital Hill featuring Jose Canseco, Mark McGuire, and Barry Bonds. We also get some footage of Senator Joe Biden's indignation as well as Senator Orin Hatch's impassioned pleas for deregulation of supplements.
To indicate the fairness and breadth of this documentary, Bell interviews an HIV survivor who testifies and shows convincing evidence that steroids have saved and improved his life. Another selling point is when he interviews Donald Hooton, father of his deceased son, Keller, who allegedly took his own life after withdrawing from steroids. Here they reveal that the boy was on prescription anti-depressants as well. On the con side, he interviews Gregory Valentino, who admits that steroid abuse have given him the largest, but most hideous biceps. He even interviews porn star, Christian Boeving, for Pete's sake.
One of the best features Bell presents is the straightforward "Steroids 101," which sorts out myth from fact well on the side effects of steroids.
Although he tries, as a filmmaker he isn't as smooth or funny as Morgan Spurlock or Andy Rooney, but his thrust is so exhaustive, yet honest, you can't help but admire his ability to present a case and let the people watching make up their own minds. Christopher Bell doesn't hide his misgivings about those whom he felt cheated to win, but it's rare that you get someone so upfront about his agenda, yet so willing to give everyone a chance to speak their minds.
A J.P.'s Pick 4*'s =Very Good
Movie Review: The Side Effects of Being American
Summary: 4 Stars
Director Chris Bell and his brothers, Mark and Mike, grew up in the 1980's being obsessed with muscle bound celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Hulk Hogan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The goal of being the next "Great American Hero" drove all three to begin taking steroids. But Chris eventually stopped. In contrast, Mark "Mad Dog" Bell and Mike "Smelly" Bell have continued using steroids well into adulthood, while pursuing side careers as a pro wrestler and a weight lifter respectively.
Chris's documentary includes interviews with his brothers and parents as well as a wide variety of athletes, medical experts and body builders. The film's subtitle is "The Side Effects Of Being American" and its theme involves the American obsession with competition and winning at all costs.
The last 10 minutes of the doc does a good of making Bell's case for the morally questionable effects caused by this American obsession. But I wish he had done a better job of illustrating the theme throughout the entire length of the movie. Also the scenes with his own family were by far the most emotionally compelling and I think he should have focused more consistent attention on them as well.
Instead the movie tends to jump all over the place, with various "experts" offering all sorts of contradictory opinions. If Bell had done a better job of editing this film might have risen to a higher level. But the fact that the subject of steroids "hits home" with the director in such a personal way takes it a notch above your typical documentary.
Movie Review: Missing some info, but has compelling material
Summary: 4 Stars
There isn't a whole lot of time devoted here to the dangers of anabolic steroids, possible long term consequences, or even images of those who have suffered damage from using these substances. This would have enhanced the documentary and added more fuel to it.
However, it is a compelling look at steroids, cheating, winning, losing, being American, trying to be the best no matter what the cost, and some problems with this over-achieving. It's also a look at how people can be torn between wanting to emulate their heroes and using questionable methods in order to accomplish this task and realize the desires.
Chris Bell even takes us inside the dynamics of his own family; he has two brothers on steroids. This is revealed to his parents at one point. It's also left open as to how things are going to develop, so to speak, because this situation is ongoing. One wonders how his big brother Mad Dog is going to fare over the next few years, not to mention little brother Smelly.
This is great fodder for discussion, especially among high school and college students, and even more so if they are athletes.