Watch The Program

The Program is a 2015 biographical drama movie directed by Stephen Frears and starring Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, and Guillaume Canet. The movie is about one of the biggest scandals in the history of professional sports: the story of Lance Armstrong, the professional cyclist who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after he was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The movie begins with Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) as a young man, who dreams of becoming a professional cyclist. He is ambitious and driven, but lacks the natural talent of his peers. He is determined to make up for it, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to win races. That is where he meets Dr. Michele Ferrari (Guillaume Canet), a controversial Italian doctor who becomes Armstrong's mentor and introduces him to a variety of performance-enhancing drugs.

As Armstrong's career takes off, he becomes a national hero, admired by many for his impressive athletic achievements and his heroic battle against cancer. His charity, Livestrong, becomes a global phenomenon, raising millions of dollars for cancer research. However, as rumors of doping start to surface, Armstrong denies any wrongdoing and launches a campaign to prove his innocence.

Meanwhile, David Walsh (Chris O'Dowd), an Irish sports journalist, begins to investigate Armstrong's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. Walsh is a thorn in Armstrong's side, as he is one of the few journalists who refuses to be swayed by Armstrong's charm and celebrity. Walsh's persistence pays off, and he uncovers evidence that Armstrong has been lying about his drug use for years.

The movie follows Armstrong as he fights to maintain his reputation and avoid detection, even resorting to blackmail and intimidation to silence those who threaten to reveal the truth. The tension builds as Armstrong's web of lies and deceit starts to unravel, and his friends and colleagues turn against him.

The Program is a well-crafted movie that offers a nuanced and complex portrayal of one of the most infamous athletes of our time. The acting is superb, with Ben Foster delivering a powerhouse performance as the tortured and manipulative Armstrong. Chris O'Dowd is equally impressive as the determined journalist who uncovers the truth, and Guillaume Canet is chilling as the unscrupulous doctor who has no qualms about pushing the limits of science and ethics.

The movie does an excellent job of capturing the dark side of sports, showing the extreme pressures that athletes face to win at all costs. It also raises important questions about the role of the media in exposing corruption and holding powerful individuals accountable.

Overall, The Program is a must-see movie for anyone interested in sports, ethics, and the pursuit of excellence. It is a gripping and thought-provoking drama that will leave audiences wondering whether the price of success is sometimes too high.

The Program is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 53.