Jake Gyllenhaal Subverts Biopic Clichés With One of His Best Dramatic Roles

For many, the biopic genre has a negative connotation attached to its name. They have been a staple movie genre, they always perform well financially, yet the audience reception towards stories about the lives of real people has fallen so unfavorably in recent times. The cold response to the plethora of biopics about famous musicians, politicians, and other notable celebrities is not unwarranted, as the genre suggests a factory-like production, with many of the films following similar story beats and characterizations. The trend caught on so much that a parody music biopic, Walk Hard: A Dewey Cox Story, has amassed a cult following. One recent biopic, Stronger, is too poignant and punishing to be mocked by the John C. Reilly comedy. The film is carried by a stellar Jake Gyllenhaal performance that not only subverts the genre's tropes but also demonstrates his unflinching dramatic chops.