What makes something “interesting”?  My wife has a doctorate in Japanese art, so when we visit an art museum she often seeks out objects like this 17th century bowl, as used in traditional tea ceremonies:

When she looks at that, she sees history, and culture, and something beautiful.  

I see a misshapen lump of clay.  

But then there is Mike BonDurant’s muscle museum, which houses his extensive collection of antiques and curiosities related to (primarily old-time) weightlifters, bodybuilders and strongmen. 

Teddy Bear (2012)
Director: Mads Matthiesen
Written by: Mads Matthiesen & Martin Zandvliet
92 min. (Drama)

Dennis (Kim Kold) is a bodybuilder in his late thirties who still lives at home with his domineering mother, Ingrid (Elsebeth Steentoft).  Despite his size, Dennis is meek and shy, and desperately lonely.  So when a relative brings home a "mail-order bride" from Thailand, Dennis is motivated to make his own pilgrimage.  And Dennis does find love, even if not quite where he expected.

The Bodybuilder and I (2007)
Written and Directed: Bryan Friedman
86 min. (Documentary)

To an outsider, the world of men's bodybuilding can appear ludicrous.  Bryan Friedman certainly feels that way at the start of his documentary The Bodybuilder and I.  There's no mistaking his contempt as he watches his father, Bill, practice posing to John Williams' Superman theme (1978).  But in case we somehow miss Bryan's slack-jawed stare, his narration is equally blunt: "I think my father looks completely ridiculous."

Of course, Bryan also despises his father.

Knights of Iron documents the powerlifting program at the Woodward Academy, a residential facility for delinquent boys.  Powerlifting, we are told, has given these troubled young men a concrete goal, and the focus and drive to excel.  And excel they do: at the start of the film, the Woodward team has already won the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals for five years running, and is going for its sixth title.

That being said, here are some of the moments we get to watch during Knights of Iron:

• An extended sequence of beginning drum students practicing on drum pads.
• Another extended sequence of the boys packing for Nationals, traveling to the airport, boarding the plane, getting off the plane, and traveling to their hotel.
• An especially excruciating (and long) segment of the boys sightseeing.

To be blunt, Knights of Iron is dull.

Strong!
Dir.: Julie Wyman
Featuring: Cheryl Haworth
76 min. (Documentary)
StrongTheFilm.com


It's hard to write a negative review of Strong! the film, because I'm so impressed by Cheryl Haworth the person.  A champion weightlifter with two Olympic games (including a Bronze medal) under her belt, Strong! follows Ms. Haworth as she strives to compete in her third Olympics (the 2008 Beijing games).  Of course, Ms. Haworth has accomplished a tremendous amount already in her chosen sport by the time the film's story begins -- and, as we learn, has sacrificed a good amount to reach those goals.  

But for all Ms. Haworth's successes and struggles, Strong! fails to tell a compelling story.