​FILMS

the program

2015 review number 178:

The Program: (Drama): 67 out of 100: My name is Lance Armstrong and this is a movie about the meteoric rise and fall of my cycling career. I was hoping that by the time I retired, a movie would be made about my glittering career but I was unfortunately exposed in the doping scandal that dominated my sport. I convinced myself I wasn't cheating so eventually it sounded like the truth, however that pesky Irish sports writer, David Walsh, was one of the small group of journalists who questioned my superhuman feats which ultimately led to my downfall. This movie has been based on his book called Seven Deadly Sins.

 

Ben Foster plays me while my adversary, David Walsh, is portrayed by Chris O'Dowd. I first met David in 1993 when I was pursuing a cycling career. He seemed to be a nice guy but he never thought that I would be capable enough to be an endurance rider. A few years later I was diagnosed with testicular cancer but I was determined to not only make a full recovery, but also to win the Tour de France. I knew everyone was taking performance enhancing drugs so the only way to beat them was to join them. I enlisted the services of physician, Michele Ferrari (Guillaume Canet), who devised a program which would increase the oxygen levels in my blood. My US Postal Services team continued with our drugs program even when he was suspended for life and I eventually retired in 2005 with a clean record...or so I thought.

 

I must admit that Ben Foster has quite a few of my mannerisms correct, my abrasive and cocky attitude at times along with the determination I needed to succeed. Heck, he even occasionally sounds like me. Can you believe that he also took performance enhancing drugs while shooting the film to see what it felt like to be me? Now that's what I call dedication to a role! Although Chris O'Dowd looks nothing like the journalist he is portraying, he demonstrates that he can act just as well in serious roles like this one as he does in the comedic roles he is renowned for. Even Dustin Hoffman (Bob Hamman) makes an appearance as an insurance agent who sues me but he isn't in the film long enough to make a huge impression. The guy who plays Floyd Landis, Jesse Plemons, is convincing and when he admits his guilt to be part of the drug taking culture of my team, it brought back memories of how the real Floyd Landis disintegrated before the media. 

 

The riding scenes are exciting at times and made me hanker for a return to my sport. I was able to reminisce as many of the cycling scenes were shot in France. Ultimately however, the story focuses more on the exposé rather than the races. 

 

If you want the definitive account of my Tour de France days, you should see a documentary called The Armstrong Lie instead. That was released only two years ago and the content includes more detail than this film. The Program spans nearly 20 years and there are certain events that have been skimmed over. Still, it's a believable and interesting retelling of my career but if you know a lot about me already, there's nothing new that you will discover. 

 

Starring Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd and Dustin Hoffman

(104 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, drug use and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXfp859pcM0 (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Wednesday November 25th, 2015)

 

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