Icarus

Netflix | Release Date: August 4, 2017

7.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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Gavinuk123Mar 15, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Icarus is an interesting look into the murky world of doping in sports but as a documentary the result is mixed at best.

Fogel is an amature cyclist and wants to take performance enhancing drugs to prove the benefits and evade detection from the authorities. This effort takes him to Grigory Rodchenkov, the director of Moscow’s Anti-Doping Centre for advice. Here the documentary finally gets going after a dull start and takes a dramatic turn towards an expose of Russian state sponsored doping.

Rodchenkov, who moves to the U.S, becomes the centerpiece of the documentary and gives us an inside look at the extent of doping in sports. The apparent mastermind behind the doping programme blows the whistle on the level of doping and involvement of the Russian state. The information is detailed with animated scenes bringing to life the KGB’s apparent involvement in unscrewing and switching urine samples. How do we know this what really happened though? Fogel, rather than placing himself at the centre of the action, would be better behind the scenes, challenging the information and digging deep to get to the truth. Does Rodchenkov tell the whole truth? Is there contradictions in his testimony? Fogel throughout seems swept away by Rodchenkov and builds a story around one man whose story may change in years to come.

Rather than a documentary on the effects of doping in sports, initially being investigated, attention is drawn away to how far up the ladder does this conspiracy go. Fogel again does not seem able to challenge or critically analyse the narrative set by Rodchenkov as the the documentary turns towards Putin. A man who cheated the system and then invaded Ukraine on a Sochi Winter Olympics high..! Random footage of Putin looking conspiratorial may give a lasting impression to those who buy into the narrative to its conclusion, for others the message is not entirely convincing. Overall a good story but a poor documentary, how did this win an Oscar?… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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mppMar 7, 2018

What a bad, bad documentary. Lot's of flaws, but 3 of the biggest: 1. A documentary meant to "shed light on an issue" of which most people are already aware, and which has been covered to death by the media, isn't very compelling. 2. TheWhat a bad, bad documentary. Lot's of flaws, but 3 of the biggest: 1. A documentary meant to "shed light on an issue" of which most people are already aware, and which has been covered to death by the media, isn't very compelling. 2. The documentarian, if he isn't rock dumb, certainly comes across that way. He features himself in a lot of the film, but adds next to nothing. 3. Adding dramatic music to scenes with zero drama does not make them dramatic.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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3ebfan511Aug 15, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good, but not great, documentary. It's directed by a guy that rode bicycles and only directoral work before this was a movie that bombed with a 4.4 rating on IMDB in 2012. It is decently done, but...is nothing amazing either as a piece of art. The story is interesting though, and I did enjoy it. But it failed to really stir much emotion at the end. If these people could get away with doping that easily...than most likely many or at least some others are as well, and it diminished the impact of what they are therefore trying to show. If anything its an indictment on the culture of sport, and instead it tries to point fingers at Putin, Russia, or possibly even the IOC etc....in my opinion...missing the point. If Russia did not dope, there would still be doping, (it showed an American sprinter who tested positive for a few mere seconds, and did discuss Lance Armstrong briefly) so just blaming Russia, does not solve the problem, and does not even get at the true heart of the problem in my opinion. I enjoyed it nonetheless though and it is definitely worth watching for the most part.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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iCronicAug 12, 2017

The first half hour is a bit confusing but then it turns into a great Thriller with a comical russian scientist. One of the best documentaries of 2017

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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KaustavFeb 5, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Icarus is a beautifully produced documentary. Kudos to Netflix and Bryan Fogel and his team for making that happen.
This is movie might not win the Oscar for the very obvious reason that it does not answer the crucial query of how dangerous and game-changing the act of doping can be in Athletics and similar sports that Fogel has set about to find. On top that of that, this is a telling of reality that that has no redemption or no real justice - The Bad Men will always get away with it, because they hold all the right reins, you see. Even still, stories like these must told every now and then so as to remind even a handful of people of the responsibility they should have to truth. Ignorance maybe Strength in some world but in your mind, only truth holds you slave irrespective of how you feel about it.
The story itself is very gripping tale that is narrated in visages of Fogel and Rodchenkov and parallels the analogy of an Orwellian society that has existed for so long that one cannot ever escape it without fatal consequences. It is a tale of people lying and cheating with straight faces and not a blink of doubt and regret in their eyes. It is a tale of horror of human cruelty and foulness while a tale of perseverance induced by hopelessness and knowledge you can't see anymore. This doc should be a shoe-in for the must-watch list of a lifetime.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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ducmanJan 20, 2018

I had big expectations for this. Was vey interesting, disturbing. One thing i regret is that the creator never fullfiled his initial goal, seeing if doping helps you to get really better, should make a part 2!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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RobertZJun 2, 2018

This documentary is like going to McDonalds and getting a burger with a side of filet mignon. The only bad is the title, although creative, may discourage wider audience. Although with Russian doping as the main premise this documentary isThis documentary is like going to McDonalds and getting a burger with a side of filet mignon. The only bad is the title, although creative, may discourage wider audience. Although with Russian doping as the main premise this documentary is really about deception, manipulation and morality in general. It draws easy parallels with Orwell's 1984, which is a bit of a cliche, but surprisingly fitting.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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CoKronakanJul 19, 2018

I'm rating this based on the fact that it was a mystery/documentary, with an intriguing plot which I would have heard about if not for this movie. But except the interesting event behind it, and the gravity of this doping situation, the movieI'm rating this based on the fact that it was a mystery/documentary, with an intriguing plot which I would have heard about if not for this movie. But except the interesting event behind it, and the gravity of this doping situation, the movie just doesn't make a big enough impact. It does not reflect that much on how bad this doping evasion was. But I really liked how the documentary was built up, but in terms of directing style it lacked a lot. Anyway interesting story and it's worth a watch. Overall it was a very good documentary, with a couple of flaws which hold it back from being even better.… Expand