The Program | Lance Armstrong biopic

The Program, new Lance Armstrong biopic from director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, The Queen), stars Ben Foster as the infamous cyclist. Frears' film chronicles his spectacular rise to stardom and equally monumental downfall from accusations of doping.




Expectations are high for method actor Foster’s performance, who made headlines with confessions of having taken performance-enhancing drugs during the film’s production for a more realistic approach to the role. Other talent comes in the form of Chris O’Dowd as sports journalist David Walsh, who makes it his mission to 'out' Armstrong for his spectacular lie. O'Dowd's previous credits like Calvary show he takes as naturally to more dramatic roles as to the light-hearted comedies for which he's known.

With various filmmakers having jumped on the bandwagon of media furore surrounding Armstrong's fall from grace – notably with recent documentaries The Armstrong Lie and Stop At Nothing – some fear Frears' film will bring little fresh insight into one of the world's greatest scandals. But with the talents at the helm and Frears' past credits, The Program looks to be an entertaining drama nonetheless.

Eyes are on Foster, then, for a nuanced portrayal of this conflicting but intriguing celebrity athlete. We look forward to catching The Program when it previews at the London Film Festival this month.