Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008)

Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008) is a personal, provocative documentary that uses the filmmaker’s own family story to probe America’s obsession with being “the best.” Director Christopher Bell follows his two brothers — both immersed in the bodybuilding/steroid subculture — and his own conflicted relationship with performance-enhancing drugs, blending intimate home-movie moments with reporting and wide-ranging interviews. Viewers can expect a mix of candid family scenes, gritty gym and competition footage, archival material and sit-down interviews that move between humor, anger and uneasy honesty. The film examines the ethics and legality of steroids, the medical and cultural arguments for and against them, and how a national drive for superlatives — to be bigger, stronger, faster — shapes individual choices. Rather than delivering simple answers, the documentary raises hard questions about fairness, health, masculinity and the American dream. Watching Bigger Stronger Faster* is an engaging, thought-provoking experience: you’ll laugh at frank, often irreverent moments, feel the tension of personal consequences, and come away unsettled but better informed. It’s a good fit for viewers interested in sports, health policy, ethics, and American culture.

Actors: Chris Bell, Mike Bell, Mark Bell

Director: Chris Bell

Runtime: 105 min

Genres: Documentary, Sport

80 /100 7.5 /10 7.8 /10