The Program (2015)

An Irish sports journalist becomes convinced that Lance Armstrong's performances during the Tour de France victories are fueled by banned substances. With this conviction, he starts hunting for evidence that will expose Armstrong.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

John Hodge (screenplay), David Walsh (book)

Stars:

Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Guillaume Canet

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Foster	...	Lance Armstrong
Chris O'Dowd	...	David Walsh
Guillaume Canet	...	Dr. Ferrari
Jesse Plemons	...	Floyd Landis
Lee Pace	...	Bill Stapleton
Denis Ménochet	...	Johan Bruyneel
Edward Hogg	...	Frankie Andreu
Dustin Hoffman	...	Bob Hamman
Elaine Cassidy	...	Betsy Andreu
Laura Donnelly	...	Emma O'Reilly
Peter Wight	...	Sunday Times Editor
Nathan Wiley	...	Charles Pelkey
Chris Larkin	...	John Wilcockson
Mark Little	...	Rupert Guinness
Michael G. Wilson	...	Lance's Doctor

Storyline

An Irish sports journalist becomes convinced that Lance Armstrong's performances during the Tour de France victories are fueled by banned substances. With this conviction, he starts hunting for evidence that will expose Armstrong.

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Plot Keywords:

tour de france | journalist | bicycle | coach | doctor | 

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Taglines:

The legend. The truth. The source. The science.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Lance Armstrong Biopic

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anton, StudioCanal, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen Frears told The Hollywood Reporter that he cast Guillaume Canet - a French actor who barely speaks English, to play Italian doctor Michele Ferrari because he couldn't find an Italian actor who speaks English.

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Goofs

When Lance's is shown on his last Tour wins, he is seen using the same Trek 5200 model bike from the prior years. However, the correct bike should have been a Trek Madone, which has a different seat tube which widens below the seat almost touching the rear wheel.

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Quotes

Lance Armstrong: Attack without mercy, keep your head down and don't look back.

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Connections

Featured in The Program: Behind the Scenes (2016)

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Soundtracks

Mr. Pharmacist
Written by Jeff Nowlen
Performed by The Fall
Courtesy of Beggars Banquet Records Ltd
By arrangement with Beggars Group Media Ltd

User Reviews

No personal touch..increases GK...fails to impact hearts..Ben Foster is Marvellous

The Program(2015)

The film deals with the dope controversy around Lance Armstrong(Ben Foster)which was triggered initially by an Irish reporter David Walsh(Chris O'Dowd). Armstrong is brought brilliantly to life by Ben Foster.The performance is genuine and Foster is physically and mentally the controversial cyclist in every aspect.The lust to win at any cost be it hook or by crook is the objective of Lance Armstrong,and Foster has nailed every bit of it, be it with his body language or his emotional breakdown whenever seeing a cancer patient.The film doesn't portray Armstrong a hero or nor the character was justified for taking drugs, he is shown from the pov of a third person.His personal life is not brought into light neither his struggles during his cancer period which if portrayed, certainly the film will have been better.

David Walsh is played well by Chris Odow'd. Actually the film is based on a book by David Walsh.The performance which also struck the right chords is of Jesse Plemons who plays here the character Of Floyd Landis, another fellow cyclist who is quite a complex character.Plemons is on to his best in the role.The film lacks the depth that usually these ports drama do and sometimes looks like a documentary but it actually put more shame to the character of Lance Armstrong..A man who became the symbol of hope from dope.