Steroid doc Bigger, Faster, Stronger* hits theaters

Whatever your feelings on muscle men Sylvester Stallone and Hulk Hogan, you're going to want to see this. And it's getting easier: over the next few weeks, Christopher Bell's documentary about steroid culture, Bigger, Stronger, Faster*, will be expanding from 19 to 51 screens around the country.

The movie's tagline ("Is it still cheating if everyone's doing it?") smacks of popular sports and weightlifting—as much as international war, school playgrounds and, perhaps, America itself. According to writer, director and narrator Christopher Bell, that's pretty much the point.

He explains: "When [Senator] Joseph Biden says there's something simply un-American about steroid use by pro athletes, I think we all question whether it's un-American to use steroids. Or is there nothing more American than doing whatever it takes to win in the culture that we're brought up in, the belief you have to win, you have to be the best?"

The film traces the history of steroids ("We figured even-steven," quips a former Olympic coach who was around for the inception of steroids for American athletes during the Cold War.) and the ethical questions brought forth by their use.

Bell's family, especially his two steroid-using brothers, serves as a humanizing force for the saga. But the story ranges far and wide, implicating athletes (including former Olympians like Ben Johnson), politicians, soldiers, Olympic officials, medical experts, body-builders—and those are only the beginning.

Watch the trailer:



Already showing:
Brookline, Mass. @ Coolidge Corner Theatre
Cambridge, Mass.@ Kendall Square Cinema
Chicago, Ill. @ Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
Dallas, Tex.@ @ Magnolia Theatre - Dallas
Austin, Tex. @ Arbor Cinemas at Great Hills
Pasadena, Calif. @ Laemmle's One Colorado Cinemas
Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Landmark
Irvine, Calif. @ University Town Center 6 Cinemas
Hollywood, Calif. @ Mann Chinese 6
Minneapolis, Minn. @ Lagoon Cinema
New York, N.Y. @ Empire 25 Theaters
New York, N.Y. @ Sunshine Cinema
Philadelphia, Pa. @ Ritz 5 Movies
Voorhees, N.J. @ Showcase at the Ritz Center 16
Pleasant Hill, Calif. @ CineArts 5 - Pleasant Hill
San Francisco, Calif. @ Embarcadero Center Cinema
Berkeley, Calif. @ Shattuck Cinemas
Arlington, Va. @ Shirlington 7
Washington, D.C. @ E Street Cinema

Starting today (June 13):
Palo Alto, Calif. @ Aquarius 2
San Diego, Calif. @ Hillcrest Cinemas
San Jose, Calif. @ Santana Row 6
Santa Cruz, Calif. @ Nickelodeon Theatres
Denver, Colo. @ Mayan Theatre
Atlanta, Ga. @ Midtown Art Cinemas 8
Kennesaw, Ga. @ Barrett Commons 24 Theatres
Evanston, Ill. @ CineArts 6 - Evanston
Portland, Maine @ The Movies
Ann Arbor, Mich. @ Michigan Theater
Royal Oak, Minn. @ Main Art Theatre
Frontenac, Mo. @ Plaza Frontenac Cinema
Cleveland Heights, Ohio @ Cedar Lee Theatres
San Antonio, Tex. @ Santikos Bijou @ Crossroads 6
Madison, Wis. @ Sundance Cinemas 608

Starting June 20:
Monterey, Calif. @ Osio Plaza 6
Miami Beach, Fla. @ South Beach 18
North Falmouth, Mass. @ Nickelodeon Cinema 5
Northampton, Mass. @ Pleasant Street
Kansas City, Mo. @ Tivoli @ Manor Square
Chapel Hill, N.C. @ Chelsea Cinema
Charlotte, N.C. @ Manor Theatre
Santa Fe, N.M. @ De Vargas Center
Bend, OR @ Pilot Butte 6 Theatres
Portland, Ore. @ Fox Tower 10
Nashville, Tenn. @ Green Hills 16
Richmond, Va. @ Westhampton Cinema 2
Seattle, Wash. @ Harvard Exit Theatre

Starting June 27:
Dayton, Ohio @ New Neon Movies
Eugene, Ore. @ Bijou Art Cinema
Knoxville, Tenn. @ Downtown West Cinema 8
Salt Lake City, Utah @ Broadway Centre Cinemas

Starting July 11:
New Haven, Conn. @ Criterion Cinemas 7

Related links:
BiggerStrongerFasterMovie.com
Magnolia Pictures: Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* at Sundance

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