The film "Patriots Day" did not extensively utilize real, archival news footage or actual recordings from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing events within its primary narrative. Instead, the production meticulously recreated the incidents and their aftermath through dramatic reenactments performed by actors, employing detailed sets, props, and sophisticated visual effects.
Director Peter Berg and his team aimed for a high degree of authenticity by conducting extensive research, interviewing survivors, law enforcement personnel, and first responders, and consulting with the actual individuals portrayed in the film. The movie's aesthetic often employs a handheld camera style and an immediate, immersive perspective to mimic the raw, documentary-like feel of real-time events unfolding. While the film may depict characters watching staged news reports or security camera footage within the fictionalized narrative, these elements were created for the movie to serve the story's dramatic purpose rather than being direct inclusions of original, unedited historical footage. The production's focus was on an accurate narrative reconstruction, emphasizing the human experience and investigative process.
Therefore, the perception that "Patriots Day" incorporated real footage largely stems from its successful execution of a realistic and immersive cinematic style, rather than the literal integration of actual historical broadcast or amateur recordings. As a dramatic feature film, its artistic mandate was to reconstruct and interpret events through performance and technical recreation, distinguishing it from a documentary's primary reliance on authentic archival material.
