Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008)

Director:

Chris Bell

Writers (WGA):

Chris Bell (written by) &
Alexander Buono (written by) ...

Genre:

Documentary | Sport

Tagline:

The side effects of being American.

Plot:

In America, we define ourselves in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest country in the world...

Plot Keywords:

Performance Enhancing | Drug | Gi Joe | Stadium | Brother Brother Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Chris Bell	...	Himself - Host (also archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hank Aaron	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lyle Alzado	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joshua Amsden	...	Himself
Ben Aukes	...	Himself
Kelly Beecher	...	Himself
Mark Bell	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Mike Bell	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Rosemary Bell	...	Herself (also archive footage)
Sheldon Bell	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Joe Biden	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sen. Joseph Biden)
Mike Blanton	...	Himself
Christian Boeving	...	Himself
Barry Bonds	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jim Bunning	...	Himself (archive footage)
George Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jose Canseco	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jeff Carwile	...	Himself
Dr. Carlon Colker	...	Himself
Rick Collins	...	Himself
Meave Cox	...	Herself
Jay Cutler	...	Himself
Dr. Eric Dodson	...	Himself
Jason Ellis	...	Himself
Wade Exum	...	Himself (as Dr. Wade Exum)
Dr. Norm Fost	...	Himself
Dr. Mark Gordon	...	Himself
Gene Haislip	...	Himself
Orrin G. Hatch	...	Himself (archive footage)
Hulk Hogan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Donald Hooton	...	Himself
Rehan Jalali	...	Himself
Ben Johnson	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Marion Jones	...	Herself (archive footage)
John F. Kennedy	...	Himself (archive footage)
Johnny Knox	...	Himself
Floyd Landis	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Stan Lee	...	Himself
Carl Lewis	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Willie Litvack	...	Himself
Timea Majorova	...	Herself
Mickey Mantle	...	Himself (archive footage)
Roger Maris	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mark McGwire	...	Himself (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe	...	Herself (archive footage)
Tony Mulhare	...	Himself
Mike Nelson	...	Himself (as Major Mike Nelson)
Joe Niekro	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jackie Ochoa	...	Himself
Jack Owoc	...	Himself
Rafael Palmeiro	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joel Paredes	...	Himself
Stephen Paulson	...	Himself
Craig Phillips	...	Himself
Harrison Pope	...	Himself (as Dr. Harrison Pope)
Lauren Powers	...	Herself
Ronald Reagan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Scott Reid	...	Himself
John Romano	...	Himself
Giovanni Roselli	...	Romeo Roselli
Rosie Ruiz	...	Herself (archive footage)
Babe Ruth	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rick Schaff	...	Himself
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Maria Shriver	...	Herself (archive footage)
Louis Simmons	...	Himself
Aubrey Smith	...	Herself
Bee Smith	...	Herself
Dick 'Smitty' Smith	...	Himself
Sammy Sosa	...	Himself (archive footage)
Sylvester Stallone	...	Himself (archive footage)
Paul Sullivan	...	Himself
Major Travis Swan	...	Himself
Dr. Lee Sweeney	...	Himself
John Sweeney	...	Himself (as Rep. John Sweeney)
Jeff Taylor	...	Himself
Josh Robert Thompson	...	Arnold Schwarzenegger (voice)
Tim Urban	...	Himself
Gregg Valentino	...	Himself
Chuck Vogelpohl	...	Himself
Gary Wadler	...	Himself (as Dr. Gary Wadler)
Diane Watson	...	Herself (as Rep. Diane Watson)
Henry Waxman	...	Himself (also archive footage) (as Rep. Henry Waxman)
Tiger Woods	...	Himself (archive footage)
Dr. Charles Yesalis	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Bigger Stronger Faster*: *The Side Effects of Being American (USA) (long title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving drugs, language, some sexual content and violent images.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company:

BSF Film

Quotes:

Himself - Host: Was there any sort of moral bridge to cross when you did this?
Porn Star: Well, we're in the porn business. There's not a whole lot of morals to begin with.

Movie Connections:

Features Rocky IV (1985)

The Best Reporting on Steroids to Date

Any sports fan over the last few years has been subject to hours and hours of Steroids debate, whether in the media, in Congress, or just on the Little League field. To call this movie the "Comprehensive Guide to Steroids in America" is accurate, but also sells the movie a little short. Not only does it provide an in-depth analysis of the steroid culture, and also provide a sympathetic case study in the Bell family, but it transcends either of those simplifiers by attaching itself to the nostalgia of American culture itself.

How can one deny the appeal of Rambo, Rocky IV, Hulk Hogan, and the Governator himself? Clips of Reagan and Bush Sr. endorsing such icons while also passing legislation banning any non-medical use of steroids are perhaps the most poignant facts of the film. Those points, and younger brother Stinky's honest relation of the ways he seems equally approving and regretful of his steroid use. This film manages to span the political, competitive, and personal effects of steroids in an even-handed and balanced manner that will open a lot of eyes.