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The Program

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The Program

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Summary

Drama charting the rise and fall of disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong, starring Ben Foster and Chris O'Dowd. In 1996, former World Road Race Champion Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer but went on to overcome the disease. A talented rider before the diagnosis, he then proceeded to win the Tour de France an unprecedented seven times. However, allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs to achieve these feats continue to dog him.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Stella Papamichael

This film from Stephen Frears focuses on the doping scandal that turned cyclist Lance Armstrong (played here by Ben Foster) from hero to villain. His confession on Oprah in 2013 opens the film, before Frears tracks back to chart his unlikely transition from day racer to seven-time Tour de France winner. There are frequent pit-stops for drug-taking and it's shocking to see just how sophisticated this "program" became. Armstrong roars at his peers and the press (Chris O' Dowd pops up as the crusading journo David Walsh, on whose book the film is based), buthis battle with cancer is a mere footnote. The man behind the headlines remains frustratingly remote throughout, leaving it to Jesse Plemons to inject the sole note of emotion as the disillusioned teammate who finally called Armstrong out.

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6.5/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameLance ArmstrongBen Foster (1)David WalshChris O'DowdDr Michele FerrariGuillaume CanetFloyd LandisJesse PlemonsBill StapletonLee PaceJohan BruyneelDenis MénochetFrankie AndreuEdward HoggBob HammanDustin HoffmanBetsy AndreuElaine CassidyEmma O'ReillyLaura Donnelly<em>Sunday Times</em> editorPeter WightRupert GuinnessMark LittleConference doctorSaskia ReevesLance's doctorMichael G WilsonTravis TygartJohn Schwab

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Crew

rolenameDirectorStephen Frears

Details

Theatrical distributor

Studio Canal

Released on

2015-10-16

Languages

English

Guidance

Swearing, drug abuse.

Available on

DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Colour

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