“Films about Lance Armstrong” typically focus on the rise and fall of the famous cyclist, chronicling his triumphs, the doping scandal that rocked the world of professional cycling, and the subsequent fallout.
“The Armstrong Lie”, 2013
Director: Alex Gibney
Directed by Alex Gibney, this documentary film follows Lance Armstrong's comeback to cycling, his battle with cancer, and the doping scandal that led to his downfall.
Starring: Reed Albergotti, Betsy Andreu, Frankie Andreu, Grace Elizabeth Armstrong, Isabelle Rose Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Joy Behar, Michael Bloomberg, Johan Bruyneel, Fabian Cancellara, Bill Clinton Jr., Alberto Contador, Anderson Cooper, Daniel Coyle, Sheryl Crow, Michele Ferrari, Tyler Hamilton, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, George Hincapie, Star Jones, Sophie Karl, Larry King, Andreas Klöden, Roman Kreuziger, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Phil Liggett, Steve Madden, Stephanie McIlvain, Dimitry Muravyev, Vincenzo Nibali, Sérgio Paulinho, Scott Pelley, Yaroslav Popovych, Grégory Rast, Bjarne Riis, Andy Schleck, Filippo Simeoni, Bob Simon, Jon Stewart, Bill Strickland, Jan Ullrich, Jonathan Vaughters, Emile Vrijman, David Walsh, Barbara Walters, Bradley Wiggins, Oprah Winfrey, Haimar Zubeldia;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: documentary, biography, sport;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “The Armstrong Lie” on the website imdb.com
“Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story”, 2014
Director: Alex Holmes
This documentary delves into the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong, exploring his career, the doping allegations, and the impact on the sport of cycling.
Starring: Reed Albergotti, Betsy Andreu, Frankie Andreu, Kristin Armstrong, Lance Armstrong, Joseba Beloki, Chris Boardman, Johan Bruyneel, Sheryl Crow, Michele Ferrari, Roberto Gaggioli, Rudy Giuliani, Helen Iesha Goldthorpe, Tyler Hamilton, Bob Hamman, Gary Imlach, Miguel Induráin, Bobby Julich, Paul Kimmage, Floyd Landis, Sergei Lebedev, Greg LeMond, Kathy LeMond, Phil Liggett, Stephanie McIlvain, Pat McQuaid, Dr. Craig Nichols, Emma O'Reilly, Abraham Olano, Bob Roll, Bill Stapleton, U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, Jeffrey M. Tillotson, Travis Tygart, Hein Verbruggen, Linda Walling, David Walsh, Steve Whisnant, Oprah Winfrey, Alex Zulle, Laurence Fishburne, Tom Hanks, George Hincapie, John Kerry, David Letterman, Eli Manning, Scott Pelley, Paul Shaffer, Paul Sherwen, George Stephanopoulos, Ben Stiller, Donald Trump, Jan Ullrich, Richard Virenque, Robin Williams;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: documentary, biography, sport;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story” on the website imdb.com
“The Program”, 2015
Director: Stephen Frears
Directed by Stephen Frears, this biographical drama stars Ben Foster as Lance Armstrong and follows his career, the doping scandal, and the subsequent investigation that tarnished his legacy.
Starring: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons, Lee Pace, Denis Menochet, Edward Hogg, Dustin Hoffman, Elaine Cassidy, Laura Donnelly, Peter Wight, Nathan Wiley, Chris Larkin, Mark Little, Michael G. Wilson, Sid Phoenix, Josh O'Connor, Sam Hoare, James Harkness, Saskia Reeves, Chloe Hayward, Adam LeFevre, Brent Langdon, JD Evermore, Nicolas Robin, Julien Vialon, Chiké Okonkwo, Daniel Stewart, Yves Aubert, Paul Kelleher, Philippe Smolikowski, Lucien Guignard, John Schwab, David Bertrand, Christy Meyer, Sebastian Gonzalez, Simon Paisley Day, Geoffrey Freshwater, Joseph Cairns, Susan Snyder, Kari Kleiv, Nikos Poursanidis, Maria Teresa Creasey, Shellia Kennedy, Rosa Bursztein, Alex Dobrenko, Lesa Thurman, Denton Blane Everett, Todd Terry, Greg Dorchak;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, biography, sport;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 99 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
More information about the film “The Program” on the website imdb.com
These films offer various perspectives on Lance Armstrong's life, career, and the controversy that surrounded him, shedding light on the complexities of his story.
In exploring the cinematic portrayals of Lance Armstrong, we witness a complex tapestry of triumph, deception, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Films like “The Armstrong Lie” and “Ride of Passage” delve into the duality of Armstrong's character, offering a critical lens on the moral ambiguities of ambition and the high cost of success in sports. These narratives not only reflect the rise and fall of a cycling icon but also serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the ethical dilemmas inherent in competitive sports. Ultimately, the films about Armstrong compel us to confront our fascination with heroes and the often murky waters that lie beneath their shimmering facades.
