For now, we all remember Lance Armstrong and his fight against cancer through Armstrong bracelets. We also remember his fall from fame when it was discovered that he was doping after years of telling the public he never used steroids. This film reminds us of his legacy and his shocking confession to the press. Just as Lance cycled his way to seven Tour de France wins, the film moves at a ridiculously quick pace jumping through more than a decade of material in an hour and a half. The jumpy cutting detracts from the film as the viewer is constantly distracted with odd side stories. For example, a small portion of the story reflects on Floyd Landis's past and his religious family's values. The Program never expands on the subject and it acts as a half-assed background story for a character that barely matters. Other quick side-tracking stories plague the film with content that could have been replaced with practical content.
The acting throughout the film seems well-researched on everyone's part except for Ben Foster (Lone Survivor). Personally I have not seen a lot of Armstrong's press conferences or public appearances, but Foster felt awkwardly placed in the role. The other actors are more authentic and naturally take on their characters. Jesse Plemons (Bridge of Spies) and Chris O'Dowd (Calvary, St. Vincent) really stand out in their roles. Plemons and O'Dowd both create the bridge for the audience to connect with the story and characters. Unfortunately, Foster is not relatable in any sense of the word.
I recall watching a documentary on the Tour de France on an Imax screen quite a few years ago. The Program has very similar camera shots to that documentary. One of the early scenes in the film really struck me as the camera follows a bicyclist on a straight path, moving at the same speed as the bicyclist. The shot is smooth and flowing, as if we are on the bike ride right next to the racer. One other neat convention used is a vertical tilt during a mountain scene. The audience is put on the edge of the mountain with the riders, feeling unstable and insecure. This shot and so many more create a spectacle of adrenaline that kept me in fear of crashing as many of the bikers do at the large race.
The Bottom Line: This film jumps around a lot in a short period of time, feeling unfocused and often unstable. Yet, the cinematography is still a smooth and flowing spectacle.
Score: 7.8/10
Image credit: http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/untitled-lance-armstrong-cycling-project-1386388200/11037811_1588410554744529_2099016994877134401_n-1.jpg
The acting throughout the film seems well-researched on everyone's part except for Ben Foster (Lone Survivor). Personally I have not seen a lot of Armstrong's press conferences or public appearances, but Foster felt awkwardly placed in the role. The other actors are more authentic and naturally take on their characters. Jesse Plemons (Bridge of Spies) and Chris O'Dowd (Calvary, St. Vincent) really stand out in their roles. Plemons and O'Dowd both create the bridge for the audience to connect with the story and characters. Unfortunately, Foster is not relatable in any sense of the word.
I recall watching a documentary on the Tour de France on an Imax screen quite a few years ago. The Program has very similar camera shots to that documentary. One of the early scenes in the film really struck me as the camera follows a bicyclist on a straight path, moving at the same speed as the bicyclist. The shot is smooth and flowing, as if we are on the bike ride right next to the racer. One other neat convention used is a vertical tilt during a mountain scene. The audience is put on the edge of the mountain with the riders, feeling unstable and insecure. This shot and so many more create a spectacle of adrenaline that kept me in fear of crashing as many of the bikers do at the large race.
The Bottom Line: This film jumps around a lot in a short period of time, feeling unfocused and often unstable. Yet, the cinematography is still a smooth and flowing spectacle.
Score: 7.8/10
Image credit: http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/untitled-lance-armstrong-cycling-project-1386388200/11037811_1588410554744529_2099016994877134401_n-1.jpg
