Bigger, Stronger, Faster: Underground Movie Review

Sports are an integral part of humanity's image of success. Here in the Philippines, getting that ever-elusive Gold Medal have been a dream since it started to participate in the quadrennial event. Americans in most part have dominated world sports but can their success be truly traced on talent alone? Why do Americans or even any first world country have an advantage over poorer countries like the Philippines? We always believed it was on funding and funding alone; to be more precise, on training equipment and their willingness to spend on sports science. Sports also are an embodiment of fairgame. Cheaters are always frowned upon. So what now with steroids; American sports are littered with these scandals. Have we been cheated upon by our so-called Western idols?

"Bigger, Stronger, Faster" is a film that delves into the psyche of Americans and why do they need to be better all the time. It also lingers into the desperate ways and measures Americans take to come on top. It stars three brothers who have been lured into steroids by their obsession into becoming like their childhood idols, Hulk Hogan, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. One brother (who is the director too) has come clean and now avoids steroids; his two brothers are still addicted and struggling not to take them anymore. The film finally looks into the illegality of steroids; if there is such truth to the steroid scare.

For us, the film was a great depiction of what is happening in sports; on how cheaters are being frowned upon yet there is an abundance of steroids abuse by most athletes. Most importantly, to films that are documentary by nature, the film exudes a sense of honesty and truth. There is no sense that the director was pushing too much on one side of the fence. Problem with this though is that the film seems to be confusing. Are they for steroids use or not? The director seems to hate steroids but most of his film depict the steroid scare and subsequently, its inception as cheating as uncalled for by the U.S. Authorities. Anyway, even with that negative note, we did enjoy the film. Hey, maybe that is why Filipino athletes always lag behind; we play to fairly or maybe we just do not have the budget to "enhance" our athletes!

Rating: 4 and a half reels