With the debut at the Sundance Film Festival, this was one of the most highly watched and rated sports films in 2008. Looking at the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, many angles are covered from social, political, health, performance enhancement effects, testing, and questioning what it means to cheat. From director Christopher Bell, the primarily focus is with his two brothers who have been involved with professional wrestling, weightlifting, and football. On the running side you will see the entire men’s 1988 Seoul Olympic 100 meter race. Interviews with Ben Johnson who states "everybody cheats, nobody in this world is perfect" and Carl Lewis, who also tested positive yet was deemed to be "inadvertant use" highlight this section. Images of Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin also appear, yet they are not interviewed. Dr. Wade Exum, former USOC Director of Drug Control states "It’s the system that actually teaches athletes to think that way. For me the whole level playing field was a myth. If we cannot do anything to take doping out of sports then doping was meant to be in sports." Forms of cheating, such as Rosi Ruiz at the Boston Marathon and methods of increasing blood cell count through altitude training and sleeping chambers are also discussed. In addition to being entertained by this film you may also find yourself in the end questioning the effects of performance aids a bit differently and with more awareness of the nuances of this sports issue that will not be leaving the eye of the media. Widely distributed and rated PG-13, one place to purchase this DVD that is filled with many extras, is at Amazon.com. The official movie web site is BiggerStrongerFasterMovie.com and check out the following trailer:
