The Armstrong Lie (2013)
2013
R
124 Minutes
In 2009, Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong’s comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong’s confession. T...
User Review
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The Armstrong Lie cycles around the pivotal question: "why?". For many, Lance Armstrong was a hero. A cancer survivor who pushed the boundaries and limitations of the human psyche. Winning seven Tour De France titles, garnering sponsorships and obtaining the power of celebrity status. He was truly a force to reckon with. Alas it was all too good to be true, and this documentary rapidly shifted from a inspirational biopic to a captivating investigation. The doping scandal during his comeback tour blew up faster than a downhill race. For years he maintained a lie that was bigger than the sport itself. Much like director Gibney, fans were let down. Not only was Armstrong a disgrace to the world of cycling, but he cheated everyone. This documentary is an insightful investigation into how Armstrong consumed performance enhancing drugs and got away with it. The mixture of the scientific reasoning behind blood transfusions and an array of fulfilling interviews provide a construct into what is a smartly written narrative. It allows you to sympathise with Armstrong in terms of his motives for sport domination, but also denounce him as, not just a sportsman, but a person. His vicious behaviour to constantly defend this lie showcased him as an individual you would not want to go up against. It's all about power. There were times though that the tone was inconsistent, particularly during his 2009 comeback. Mostly because the filming took place then, but it deviates from the purpose of this documentary. We want to know why he did it! And unfortunately, despite some personal interviews with him, it's not at the forefront. The absence of presenting the aftermath of his confession was also missed. Including this would've highlighted just how important Armstrong was to people (particularly cancer patients), and would substantiate the outcry that was to follow. Still, in terms of portraying his past events and how he maintained his lie, this was a successful documentary. Consistently captivating and moved faster than a cyclist pedalling for the title. I just wish it delved deeper into why he did it.0 member like this review.
