The central element of the query is the noun phrase "a true story," which serves as the main point of inquiry. The film Patriots Day is factually based on the real-world events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the extensive manhunt that followed. It chronicles the terrorist attack and the subsequent investigation and capture of the perpetrators, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
The film's narrative adheres closely to the established timeline of the actual events, which unfolded over approximately 102 hours. It depicts key moments including the bombing itself, the FBI-led investigation, the identification of the suspects from surveillance footage, the murder of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, the carjacking of Dun Meng, and the final shootout in Watertown, Massachusetts. Many of the characters are direct portrayals of real individuals involved, such as Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, and Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese. However, the film's central protagonist, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (portrayed by Mark Wahlberg), is a composite character. He is not a real person but was created for the film to serve as a narrative guide, embodying the experiences and actions of multiple different Boston police officers who were involved in various aspects of the response.
In conclusion, Patriots Day is a historical dramatization rather than a documentary. While its foundation is the factual account of the Boston Marathon bombing, it employs cinematic techniques, most notably the use of a composite lead character, to condense the narrative and heighten the emotional impact. The film's availability on streaming services like Netflix is subject to regional licensing agreements and can change over time.
