Bigger Stronger Faster*

A Great Documentary. In a very earnest, humble and honest manner. Focusing on his family made this film especially endearing. I had to write a review. I highly recommend this to Americans especially. Having lived many years in an American High School environment, I know how obsessed with being winners and not being losers has made Americans eternally unhappy. Not everyone is going to be a movie/rock/muscle star. 95% of people will be "losers". So what is wrong with being an "underachiever" ? Apparently everything in the USA. Several reviews seem to focus only on the main issue of the steroid use... but its clear that the Director gives us a great glimpse of the American psyche and how that has lead to a massive use of drugs and double moral standards on their use. Who are our heroes ? Why ? Why aren't people ever satisfied with who they are ? Fame obsession is making people feel bad about themselves... and the director in a masterful way showed how his heroes aren't all they seem to be. Great Job !! Seems Americans are becoming great documentary makers ! Congratulations and I hope to see more stuff from this director.

I took 15 different anabolic steroids, oral and injectable, the original human growth hormone, and HCG during my four years of anabolic use in the early 80s as a competitive powerlifter, bodybuilder, and college baseball and hockey player...but now I'm a school teacher with a master's in math, so I'm not a total blockhead. I learned about 'roids from the best (Dr. James Wright, who did steroid research for the US Army), was involved in the drug trade with the best (England's Tony Fitton), and have been the subject of numerous studies, print stories, books, and shows (Time, Harvard University, Boston Museum of Science, Nightline to name a very few). That being noted, this was easily the most honest, straightforward and truthful program I've ever witnessed about anabolics - and that includes all the stuff I've been involved in. Those who don't agree simply don't have the experience to realize that, so it's not really their fault, they are just consumed with personal opinion and bias based on little to no first-hand knowledge and the misdirected media. Throw everything else in the trash, this show is the best.

This documentary contains all the needed ingredients for an awesome film: great subject, honest and objective, entertaining, great interviews. Being a big documentary fan, I am usually very critical of the films I see. For this one though, I can't think of a negative thing to say. It takes a sensitive, covered up issue and reveals all the dirty details with brutal honesty. No one seems to be holding back in this one. You will also find yourself understanding these people and although not agreeing with drug use, seeing them not as "users" or "addicts" but real people who have made some different choices in their lives. All in all this was one of the best docs I have seen to date.

As an ex-amateur wrestler, I have seen a lot of this stuff first hand. But until now the use of steroids or performance enhancing drugs was very hush hush. This movie is very true to life and reveals the truth behind this mystery. Steroids are not limited to sports pros or Olympic athletes, these drugs are everywhere. People you would never suspect are using them, your neighbor, your teacher, possibly even members of your own family. It is about time someone has lifted the veil off of this issue, and this movie did a realistic and honest job of doing just that. Thank you to the brave participants.

I just recently saw this film at Sundance Film Festival. I loved it. It was the best of the three documentary competition movies I was able to watch. Chris Bell does an amazing job taking an intimate, honest look at American culture and Steroid use. He essentially sets up himself and his family as a case study for his movie. He looks at himself and his family in an honest, open, and introspective manner. He causes the viewer to reevaluate their pre-conceived notions of steroid use and American values. His investigations on the subject include interviews with experts including his own mother and Olympic greats Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson. It is thought provoking, clever, and insightful, all while remaining objective. All things that define a great documentary in my book.