3/5 stars

It might seem too soon for a film about the 2013 Boston marathon bombings, but Patriots Day, which stars Boston native Mark Wahlberg, isn’t likely to offend anyone. Although it doesn’t shy away from showing the injuries and destruction caused by the bombs, it’s conceived as a tribute to the first responders and victims. Peter Berg’s direction is never mawkish, and provides many moments of unexpected sensitivity.

The script is a relatively straightforward account of events. The story begins with the preparations for the marathon, and ends with the arrest of the surviving suspect. Instead of delving into the motivations of the bombers, it simply shows the event and follows the chase. Most of the characters are based on real people, although Wahlberg’s cop Tommy is a fictional entity created so that he can be at the forefront of the action all the time.