The Program

Name: The Program
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Released: March 18, 2016
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons, Lee Pace

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

See All

6.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Program: Mirror

Now Playing: The Program: Mirror

Movie Details & Credits

Momentum Pictures | Release Date: March 18, 2016 | R

Starring: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons, Lee Pace

Summary: The world needs heroes and Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) was the ultimate sporting hero. Following a gruelling battle with cancer, Lance returned to his cycling career in 1999 more determined than ever and with his sights set firmly on winning the Tour de France. With the help of the infamous Italian physician Michele Ferrari and teamThe world needs heroes and Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) was the ultimate sporting hero. Following a gruelling battle with cancer, Lance returned to his cycling career in 1999 more determined than ever and with his sights set firmly on winning the Tour de France. With the help of the infamous Italian physician Michele Ferrari and team director Johan Bruyneel, he developed the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport. This program allowed Lance and his American teammates to dominate the world of cycling, winning the Tour an unprecedented seven times. However not everyone believed the fairytale. Sunday Times journalist, David Walsh (Chris O'Dowd), at first charmed by Lance’s charisma and talent, soon began to question whether the ‘world’s greatest athlete’ was ‘clean’. Walsh sought to unveil the truth, his ensuing battle with Armstrong risked his own career, ostracised him from the cycling community and cost his paper, The Sunday Times, hundreds of thousands in legal costs. But the indefatigable Walsh eventually uncovered the truth when a select few prepared to talk came forward, exposing one of the greatest deceptions of our time. [Momentum Pictures]
… Expand

Director: Stephen Frears

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Andrew Lowry

Oct 19, 2015

This fearless reconstruction drives home the dark lie that Lance Armstrong lived – it’s just a pity it doesn’t dig a little deeper. Read full review

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

Oct 13, 2015

The Program offers no obvious new revelations and Armstrong remains elusive – but it has an unsettling air that carries us through its more pedestrian patches. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Mar 15, 2016

The Program wisely hangs on Foster’s fierce performance, transforming himself into Lance. Read full review

Gregory Ellwood

Oct 20, 2015

The Program works when it has you questioning how on earth this secret could be kept so quiet for so long when so many people knew exactly what was going on. Read full review

Rex Reed

Mar 17, 2016

Armstrong is played by Ben Foster with an astonishing lack of animation or personality, and his literary prosecutor is played by the usually colorful, award-winning Chris O’Dowd with a dreariness that is stripped bare of his usual dynamism. Read full review

Fionnuala Halligan

Sep 15, 2015

For all that it promises the thrill of high-speed racing, the crush of the peloton, and the drama of disgrace, The Program works best when it deals with this fascinating case of investigative journalism which saw Walsh doggedly pursue his target through 13 years and the temporary loss of his own reputation. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Mar 17, 2016

The Program, much to its detriment, concentrates almost exclusively on the history of the doping effort. Read full review

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

Broyax

Jul 9, 2019

Très bon film de Stephen Frears sur le roi des dopés et sur ce sport en particulier qui brasse tellement d'interêt et d'argent que les scandales successifs et récurrents n'égratignent pas... Mais le cyclisme n'est que l'arbre qui cache la forêt, la forêt du dopage dans le sport en général :Très bon film de Stephen Frears sur le roi des dopés et sur ce sport en particulier qui brasse tellement d'interêt et d'argent que les scandales successifs et récurrents n'égratignent pas... Mais le cyclisme n'est que l'arbre qui cache la forêt, la forêt du dopage dans le sport en général : des jeux olympiques au Tour ou aux 100 mètres ou tout ce qu'on veut, tous les "sportifs" sont chargés comme des mules.

Pour autant, c'est aussi le portrait d'un homme qui voulait simplement "gagner" et s'est donné tous les moyens pour y parvenir ; un portrait en demi-teintes de gris qui peut être touchant par moments. Très documenté, le film se laisse suivre comme un polar et explique très bien les tenants et les aboutissants d'une véritable petite organisation mafieuse.

Certes un peu longuette, la démonstration s'avère en tout cas concluante et fait froid dans le dos. Il ne reste plus qu'à s'occuper de l'athlétisme, du tennis, du football, du basket et du reste... la liste est longue comme le bras, car le sport moderne est avant tout une affaire de tricheurs...… Expand