Movie Review: Bigger, Stronger, Faster

I know, I know, the movie has been out for a year now, but Food Inc. strangely haven't opened here yet, and I'm in the mood for a movie review!

I'll never forget being an anxious 12 year old watching the '88 Olympics - the marquee event - the 100 meter dash. I cheered loudly as Ben Johnson blazed to a new world record. I also remember the shear disappointment of what ensued.

Steroids have become a source of much controversy and debate over the years. Bigger, Stronger, Faster puts the culture of steroids, body building, athletics and the ethics under the microscope with this frankly excellent documentary.

The film is narrated by Chris Bell, and centers on he and his two brothers, who grew up lifting weights in dreams of becoming like their idols Schwarzenegger, Hulk Hogan and Stallone.

Bell's tale begins with his upbringing, and their encounters with steroids. He travels the country conducting fascinating interviews with everybody from steroid experts, athletes, bodybuilders and media people, to congressmen and supplement manufacturers.

Here are some of the more salient points of the film:

• In 2005, the congressional hearings spent more time on steroids than healthcare, the levies in New Orleans, and the war in Afghanistan.
• There may be an unfounded fear of steroids - fuelled by the media and people who know very little about them.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control deaths related to:
Tobacco: 435,000, Alcohol: 75,000, and Anabolic steroids: 3 (anabolic steroids are the 142nd most common reason for ER visits)
• Dr. Gary Wadler seems to be the media go-to guy when it comes to steroids, but when pressed about it, does not produce a single study to support his claims.
• There's no evidence that steroids are directly linked to stroke, cancer or kidney problems.
• Most of the side-effects of steroids (balding, hair growth on body, testicular shrinkage) are all reversible. Some female side-effects are not.
• Anabolic steroids only increase aggression in 5% of the population.
• Steroids will only make you more of what you already are.
• Anabolic steroids have some very effective therapeutic use - those with HIV benefit greatly from their use.
• After the '88 Olympics, congress began to treat anabolic steroids the same way as cocaine and heroin.
• In 1988 over 2000 US athletes tested positive for banned substances. The former director of the anti-doping agency said there was a massive cover-up. Carl Lewis tested positive for 3 banned substances, but an "inadvertent use" clause was added to exonerate him and allow him to compete at the Olympics.

Is it cheating?

While it may be pretty clear-cut that people who use anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing drugs are cheaters, what isn't so clear cut is where do we draw the line.

Tiger Woods had Lasik surgery making his vision 20/15 - is this not an "unfair" edge?

Sleeping in an altitude chamber to increase red blood cells is legal, but blood doping to do the same thing is not.

Countless fighter pilots, adult film stars, musicians and students alike take some form of performance enhancing drugs. For example, musicians take beta-blockers to calm themselves down - this could give them an edge come audition time. Students pop Adderall to help them focus and stay up longer - this could be an unfair advantage when competing for College entrance.

Two thumbs up

The movie is nothing short of fascinating. The way it is put together, the compelling story of the three brothers, and how they are a reflection of society's desire for being, or witnessing, larger than life figures is eye-opening. It really keys in on some of the most pressing issues in the culture of body building and the pursuit of aesthetics, performance and beauty.

I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it already.

Editor's note: It should be stressed that although this movie is in documentary format, we don't know how true to life the story is.